Ha Tae-kyung: "Moon, a former human rights lawyer, must answer whether he agreed to label defectors as North Korean defectors"

"Why Was There No Rescue Order Despite Receiving Reports While Alive?" Must Be Answered

Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, is being interviewed at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 1st. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party and head of the task force investigating the shooting incident involving a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official, stated on the 6th that "former President Moon Jae-in, as the highest authority at the time, bears official responsibility" and should apologize regarding the incident.

In an interview with BBS Radio on the same day, Ha said, "Former President Moon must answer two questions."

The two issues he pointed out were, first, whether there were any rescue-related orders despite reports that our citizen was in North Korean waters at the time, and second, whether former President Moon agreed to the National Security Office-led 'labeling as defecting to the North.'

Ha said, "Did former President Moon agree to stigmatizing the individual as a defector to the North? Did he specifically review why this was done?" He added, "Isn't he a human rights lawyer by background? He should be that sensitive to human rights."

He continued, "In the past, the Moon Jae-in administration's pro-democracy activists hated fabricated spy cases the most," adding, "This is the same as the 'red scare' tactics. Haven't they done the same thing? It's a moral collapse incident of the past pro-democracy movement forces."

He stated, "A clear answer on this issue is necessary," and added, "Otherwise, those who criticized the labeling as defecting to the North cannot erase the dishonor of having done the same labeling themselves."