"Cancel the Yi Yuk-sa Press Award Given to Kim Soon-duk" ... Democratic Party Statement

"Claim of 'Pro-Japanese Collaborator' Baek Seon-yeop Defense Through Column"

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Koo Dae-sun] The Democratic Party of Korea Gyeongbuk Provincial Party Committee (Chairperson Lim Mi-ae, former Gyeongbuk Provincial Assembly member) urged on the 20th to revoke the Lee Yuk-sa Journalist Award given to Kim Soon-duk (61), a senior reporter at Dong-A Ilbo.

The Democratic Party of Korea Gyeongbuk Provincial Party Committee issued a statement on the same day, explaining the background: “The Lee Yuk-sa Journalist Award Establishment Committee selected Kim Soon-duk, senior reporter at Dong-A Ilbo, as the recipient of the 1st Lee Yuk-sa Journalist Award on the 17th and presented a plaque and a prize of 20 million won. The committee chose a journalist who honors the journalistic spirit of Lee Yuk-sa, who steadfastly upheld patriotic and truthful journalism during the harsh Japanese colonial period, and who aligns with the realistic and era-appropriate spirit that does not betray that legacy.”

However, the Democratic Party of Korea Gyeongbuk Provincial Party Committee claimed, “Reporter Kim, who has habitually defended pro-Japanese and anti-national figure Baek Seon-yeop, wrote a column defending Baek Seon-yeop just one week before receiving the Lee Yuk-sa Journalist Award.”

In a column titled “The ‘Moon Jae-myung faction’ has no right to talk about democracy,” Kim reportedly referred to former President Moon Jae-in’s 2021 memorial speech for the victims of the Jeju 4.3 Incident, asserting that “the essence of 4.3 is a rebellion by the South Korean Workers’ Party,” thereby revealing an extreme right-wing historical consciousness, according to the Democratic Party of Korea Gyeongbuk Provincial Party Committee.

Democratic Party of Korea Gyeongbuk Provincial Party Committee.

They also criticized former President Moon Jae-in’s 2019 Memorial Day speech, which stated that “the Joseon Volunteer Army led by Yak-san Kim Won-bong was incorporated into the Liberation Army, ultimately consolidating the nation’s independence movement capabilities,” arguing that “he was the president who made sure that the homepage information section of retired General Baek Seon-yeop, a hero of the Korean War, included the phrase ‘pro-Japanese anti-national figure,’” thus defending the pro-Japanese collaborator Baek Seon-yeop.

The Democratic Party of Korea Gyeongbuk Provincial Party Committee stated, “We cannot overlook awarding the Lee Yuk-sa Journalist Award in the name of Lee Yuk-sa to Kim Soon-duk, who was busy defending Baek Seon-yeop until just before receiving the award,” and expressed the view that “the Lee Yuk-sa Journalist Award given to Kim Soon-duk should be immediately revoked, and we hope that the name of Lee Yuk-sa will not be defiled.”