Sim Sang-jung: "Lee Jae-myung, who re-evaluated Jeon Du-hwan, seems likely to become the People Power Party candidate"

Sim Sang-jung, the presidential candidate of the Justice Party, attended the '21st Anniversary Ceremony and Academic Conference of President Kim Dae-jung's Nobel Peace Prize' held at the Kim Dae-jung Library of Yonsei University in Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 9th, delivering a congratulatory speech. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] On the 12th, Sim Sang-jung, the Justice Party presidential candidate, targeted Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party and Yoon Seok-youl of the People Power Party, saying, "Yoon Seok-youl says that Chun Doo-hwan was good at politics, and Lee Jae-myung says that Chun Doo-hwan was good at the economy," and added, "If you put together what these people say, it seems Chun Doo-hwan should move to the National Cemetery even now," criticizing them.

In particular, she pointed at candidate Lee, saying, "He reevaluated Chun Doo-hwan as a president who was good for the economy, and in trying to differentiate himself from the Moon Jae-in administration, it seems he will become the People Power Party candidate."

Earlier, on the 11th, candidate Lee visited Gyeongbuk and said, "Chun Doo-hwan had both merits and demerits. Overall, Chun Doo-hwan made good use of the 'three lows boom' (low interest rates, low oil prices, low dollar) to prevent the economy from collapsing and to keep it functioning properly, which is indeed an achievement." However, he added, "Acts that harm the lives of the people with the guns entrusted by the people can never be forgiven for any reason and must never be repeated. Therefore, he can never be respected."

Candidate Yoon also stated on October 19, "Many people say that President Chun Doo-hwan was good at politics except for the military coup and the May 18 Gwangju incident," adding, "Even people from Honam say such things."

In response, candidate Sim said, "Reevaluating the merits of a traitor who caused the nation to tremble and a murderer who left without any remorse cannot be an election strategy," and added, "It can only be seen as the subconscious of the two major party candidates who romanticize the authoritarian era, the Chun Doo-hwan era."

She continued, "Those who try to reevaluate Chun Doo-hwan are Chun Doo-hwan himself. As long as such people exist, the 'Chun Doo-hwan era' will continue even after his death," and urged, "I clearly tell the two major party candidates to leave Chun Doo-hwan under the heavy judgment of the citizens of Gwangju and the people."

Finally, candidate Sim said, "It is truly deplorable that presidential candidates throw away the historical value of democracy, which our people have built with tears of blood, just for votes."