President Yoon and First Lady Satire Exhibition Withdrawn... Renewed Controversy Over 'Freedom of Expression'

Opposition: "Forcing the removal of the exhibition breaks artists' will"
Ruling Party: "Shocked and appalled by displaying such works"

One of the works from the '2023 Goodbye Exhibition in Seoul' that was scheduled to be held on the 2nd floor of the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 9th. / Photo by Go Gyeong-il, Chairman of the Goodbye Exhibition in Seoul Organizing Committee, Facebook capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Political satire artworks that were scheduled to be exhibited at the National Assembly Members' Office Building from the 9th were forcibly removed by the National Assembly Secretariat ahead of the opening. Opposition party lawmakers, including the Democratic Party who organized the exhibition, strongly protested, saying it trampled on freedom of expression. On the other hand, the People Power Party harshly criticized the opposition lawmakers, calling it "a tool to destroy the constitution by not recognizing and mocking the president."

The '2023 Goodbye Exhibition in Seoul,' which was scheduled to be held from 2 p.m. that day in the lobby on the 2nd floor of the National Assembly Members' Office Building, was canceled by the National Assembly Secretariat the night before. The exhibition was hosted by the Seoul Federation of Ethnic Art Organizations and the Goodbye Exhibition Organizing Committee, and jointly organized by 12 lawmakers including Democratic Party members Kang Minjung, Kim Seungwon, Kim Youngbae, Kim Yongmin, Yang Iwonyoung, Yoo Jeongju, Lee Sujin, Jang Kyungtae, Choi Kangwook, Hwang Unha, and independents Yoon Mihyang and Min Hyungbae. About 80 political satire works by more than 30 artists were to be exhibited.

Among the exhibited works, many sharply criticized President Yoon Seokyeol and his wife. These included a depiction of President Yoon as a giant protecting First Lady Kim Geonhee while wielding a sword, and a parody of the movie poster for 'Decision to Leave,' targeting allegations of preferential treatment in the Yongsan presidential office and residence construction contracts, titled 'Decision to Exploit.'

The exhibition was initially approved by the National Assembly. However, after reviewing the artworks, the National Assembly Secretariat reportedly sent a letter to the organizers the day before, requesting voluntary removal of the exhibition. The Secretariat cited Article 6, Clause 5 of the 'Regulations on the Use of Meeting Rooms and Lobbies in the National Assembly Members' Office Building' as grounds for withdrawal. The regulation states that use may be denied if the meeting or event is judged to infringe on others' rights, public morals, or social ethics, such as defaming specific individuals or groups.

Opposition Lawmakers Organizing Exhibition: "Violation of Freedom of Expression" vs Ruling Party: "Tool to Destroy Constitution, Not Justifiable"

Opposition lawmakers who organized the exhibition immediately protested. Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Kangwook and independent lawmaker Min Hyungbae held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office that day, stating, "The National Assembly Secretariat forcibly removed over 80 artworks in a surprise raid early this morning," and criticized, "The National Assembly trampled on freedom of expression."

They said, "The National Assembly Secretariat forcibly suppressed the artists' will to sharply criticize power through satire," and "The Speaker of the National Assembly should now order the prompt restoration of the removed artworks so that the works can properly reach the citizens."

On the other hand, the ruling party fiercely criticized the opposition, calling it "an explicit declaration of refusal to accept the presidential election results." Yang Geumhee, chief spokesperson of the People Power Party, released a statement saying, "It is shocking and appalling that an exhibition defaming the president and the president's spouse under the pretext of satirizing the administration was to be hosted in the National Assembly," and called them "paintings that cannot be exhibited in the hall of popular sovereignty."

She added, "While freedom of expression is guaranteed to everyone by the constitution, using it as a tool to not recognize, mock, and defame the president elected by the people can never be justified," and said, "It is nothing but black propaganda disguised as art under the guise of satire."