The Democratic Party Criticized by the United Party as 'Shut Up and Stop Anti-Japan Rhetoric, the Cause of National Ruin'

"Anti-Japan Sentiment as a Domestic Political Firestarter"
Mentioning the Records of Former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun

On the 20th, the People Power Party launched a fierce counterattack against the Democratic Party of Korea, which criticized President Yoon Suk-yeol's visit to Japan as "humiliating diplomacy," using harsh expressions such as "shut up and exploit anti-Japanese sentiment" and "the Democratic Party, which uses protective materials, is the culprit of national ruin."

Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, pointed out at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, "Regarding the normalization of Korea-Japan relations, the Democratic Party's false agitation and divisiveness have crossed the line," and added, "They are spouting absurd nonsense such as being Japan's lackey and a powder keg for war."

Kim said, "Looking at the current behavior of the Democratic Party, it seems that anti-Japanese sentiment is not for national interest but rather a material used as kindling for domestic politics," and criticized, "'Shut up and exploit anti-Japanese sentiment' seems to be the Democratic Party's inexhaustible source of support." He continued, "It appears to be an attempt to stabilize the party shaken by anti-Japanese agitation and to suppress public criticism of the party leader's criminal allegations," adding, "I ask again whether the Democratic Party, which even uses national interest and security as protective materials, is not the very culprit of national ruin."

Supreme Council member Cho Soo-jin also pointed out, "Even when criticizing, it should be based on national interest and carried out according to facts and logic, but Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is once again singing the song of death without any reflection on making Korea-Japan relations the worst quagmire."

The People Power Party emphasized the legitimacy of the Korea-Japan summit by mentioning the actions of former presidents from the Democratic Party administration. Kim said, "Former President Roh Moo-hyun enacted a law in 2007 to provide compensation to forced labor victims using national funds raised by taxpayers. According to the Democratic Party's logic, does that make former President Roh a lackey of Japan?" He emphasized, "The absurd Democratic Party claim that what former President Roh did is patriotic but what President Yoon Suk-yeol does is humiliating is a typical case of double standards."

Seong Il-jong, chairman of the Policy Committee, also responded, "It was former President Kim Dae-jung who made the Dokdo waters a joint Korea-Japan fishing zone. What will you say about Japanese ships fishing in our waters?" and countered, "Is former President Kim a lackey of Japan? Was the Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration intended for the Self-Defense Forces to station on the Korean Peninsula?"