President Yoon on 'Yoon Seok-yeol Car' Controversy: "Not a Matter for the President to Address"

Yoon Avoids Specific Mention of Yoon Seok-yeol Vehicle

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Suk-yeol addressed the controversy surrounding the satirical cartoon 'Yoon Suk-yeol Train' on the 6th, stating, "This is not a matter for the president to comment on."

On the morning of the same day, President Yoon made this remark when a reporter met him on his way to the Yongsan Presidential Office and pointed out, "The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a warning regarding the satirical cartoon, and there are claims that this violates the freedom of expression promised during the presidential election period."

The cartoon work 'Yoon Suk-yeol Train' by a high school student, which won the gold prize in the cartoon category at the National Student Cartoon Contest hosted by the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency, was exhibited at the 25th Bucheon International Comics Festival, which closed on the 3rd.

Subsequently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism pointed out, "Although the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency, which hosted the National Student Cartoon Contest, is a foundation affiliated with Bucheon City, it receives 10.2 billion won of government budget funded by taxpayers, and the grand prize of this contest is awarded by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism," mentioning the cancellation of sponsorship approval and an investigation into the judging process.

In response, opposition parties and cartoon organizations have criticized this as an infringement on freedom of expression.

At the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee’s audit of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held the previous day, Kim Yoon-duk, the Democratic Party’s ranking member, criticized, "The Park Geun-hye administration’s blacklist comes to mind again. Back then, it was done behind closed doors and discovered later, but this time, artists are being pressured openly. The Democratic Party sternly warns the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for issuing warnings to artists."

Assemblywoman Lim Oh-kyung stated, "The satirical cartoon drawn from a student’s imagination did not cause social controversy but rather offended the president’s sensibilities," and argued, "This is an abuse of authority by Ministry officials and intimidation of the judges."

The ruling party, the People Power Party, has also responded strongly. Assemblyman Lee Yong of the People Power Party countered, "If during the previous administration the faces had been changed to 'Moon Jae-in Train,' the conductor to Mrs. Kim Jung-sook, and the passengers to the 586 activist group, civic organizations, and Kim Jong-un, there would have been sanctions, lawsuits against the high school student, and collective online lynching."

Assemblywoman Hwang Bo-seung-hee pointed out, "Shin Jong-chul, the president of the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency, is a person close to the Democratic Party, having served as a Gyeonggi Province assemblyman for the Democratic Party and even ran as a preliminary candidate in the 20th general election. Despite having no background in comics, he was appointed," criticizing the biased composition of the Korea Manhwa Contents Agency that awarded the gold prize to the work.