"Cold Water on Yoon Government's Grand Decision for the Future
Hope for Bipartisan Support to Resolve Bilateral Conflicts and Distrust"
Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, on the 19th criticized Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who harshly criticized the 'Korea-Japan summit,' saying, "As the leader of the main opposition party, this is an extremely frivolous and irresponsible provocation," and expressed "deep regret."
Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, is giving an opening speech at the members' meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 16th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
On the same day, Kim said on Facebook, "Despite notable achievements such as the restoration of shuttle diplomacy between the two heads of state, normalization of the Korea-Japan Military Information Protection Agreement (GSOMIA), which the Moon Jae-in administration used as a political prop in domestic politics, and the lifting of export restrictions on three key semiconductor materials, the Democratic Party blindly clings to absurd arguments like 'the Yoon Seok-yeol administration has become Japan's lackey' and 'a surrender ceremony offering tribute and pleading for reconciliation to Japan.'"
Kim added, "It is simply lamentable that the Democratic Party still chants the late Joseon Dynasty-style 'Death Song' and indulges in anti-Japanese agitation like 'sugu-kkoltong' (reactionary hardliners)." He emphasized, "Normalizing Korea-Japan relations is like a primer that blocks North Korean nuclear provocations and Chinese threats and revitalizes the economy. The White House also stated that it 'actively supports Korea-Japan cooperation to strengthen Korea-US-Japan relations.'"
He then targeted Lee and the Democratic Party, saying, "Despite the flow of such international circumstances, the irresponsible domestic political 'shut up and be anti-Japan' behavior of Lee and the Democratic Party, which tries to go against this, only causes losses to national interests."
He also criticized, "Where has Lee’s declaration gone, made during the parliamentary negotiation group leaders’ speech on September 28 last year, that 'there is no rehearsal in diplomacy, which is a war without gunfire,' and 'under the principle of prioritizing national interests and practical diplomacy, we will cooperate across party lines to expand economic territory'? Was it just a show thrown out once?"
Kim urged, "I hope you will no longer pour cold water on the bold and magnanimous decisions of the Yoon Seok-yeol government for the future," and added, "As the leader of the largest party in the National Assembly, it is the path not shameful to history for a responsible political party leader to lend bipartisan support so that conflicts and distrust between the two countries can be resolved."
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