Criticism of Past Cheonanham Remarks from Inside and Outside the Political Sphere
The Democratic Party of Korea is facing criticism both inside and outside the party for appointing Lee Raegyeong, honorary chairman of Other Hundred Years, as the head of the party's innovation body. Criticism has continued within the political sphere regarding Lee's past remarks, including those about the Cheonan incident.
On the 5th, Democratic Party lawmaker Hong Young-pyo stated on social media (SNS), "Chairman Lee is an inappropriate figure for the position of innovation committee chair due to his excessively biased, extreme remarks and conspiracy theories," and added, "I strongly demand the immediate withdrawal of Lee Raegyeong's appointment before greater controversy arises."
Lee previously claimed on SNS that the Cheonan ship sinking incident was a 'self-destruction.' Even after being appointed as the head of the innovation body, he stated in a phone interview with the media that "my position is that the cause is unknown" regarding the Cheonan sinking.
Regarding Lee's appointment, Representative Hong expressed concern, saying, "It will rather diminish the momentum for innovation and add another risk within the party. At a time when we want innovation, adding another risk because of the innovation committee chair is absolutely unacceptable."
He explained, "Delegating full authority to create innovation plans to the innovation committee chair is intended for an outsider to diagnose the party with a neutral and cool-headed perspective and find solutions," and added, "The appointee must have expertise, neutrality, democracy, and integrative coordination abilities, not be a person biased to one side."
Representative Hong said, "Based on information already exposed to the media, this person is not suitable for the innovation committee chair, let alone for the Democratic Party," and added, "We should reflect on the expectations and roles of past innovation committees led by Park Jae-seung and Kim Sang-gon and find a suitable person."
Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Sang-min also said, "The establishment of the Democratic Party's innovation committee is meant to overcome the flaws and limitations of Lee Jae-myung's leadership. If so, the person must be strong, able to firmly and objectively hold the center based on public sentiment," and added, "Lee Raegyeong, who is reportedly selected as the innovation committee chair, has not been discussed within the party at all, has not been verified, and is rather biased toward Lee Jae-myung's faction, so there is nothing more to expect. It is absurd and truly worrisome."
Concerns are also continuing outside the Democratic Party.
Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min criticized on SNS, "The Democratic Party is finally heading down the path of self-destruction." After briefly mentioning the details of the Cheonan sinking, Yoo said, "The person who denies this historical fact and claims the Cheonan 'self-destruction theory' is the Democratic Party's innovation committee chair," and added, "Despite the corruption allegations against Lee Jae-myung, Song Young-gil, and Kim Nam-guk, seeing such a person appointed as innovation committee chair, it seems the Democratic Party has decided to destroy itself. It is this difficult to expect innovation from the Democratic Party."
Yoo further said, "Not an innovation committee chair but a self-destruction committee chair," and added, "Seeing the ruling party unable to escape the swamp of corruption and anti-history makes me really worried about the future of our politics. The Democratic Party must clearly explain to the public what they were thinking in making this appointment and their stance on the Cheonan self-destruction theory."
Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, is holding the party's highest council meeting at the National Assembly on the 5th. Lee announced, "We have decided to appoint Chairman Lee Rae-gyeong as the head of the Democratic Party's innovation organization." [Image source=Yonhap News]
People Power Party lawmaker Kim Woong said on SNS, "Someone who claims the Cheonan incident was self-destruction is said to lead the Democratic Party's innovation. How is this different from those who claim the May 18 Gwangju incident was the work of North Korean troops?" and added, "No matter whose party it is, there are boundaries in politics. Are the Democratic Party and Leader Lee sane for appointing such a person as the party's innovation committee chair?"
Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok also pointed out on SNS, "After briefly reviewing that person's remarks and actions, if they are going to follow that line, it would be better to appoint Kim Eo-jun as the innovation committee chair."
Meanwhile, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung said to reporters after announcing Lee's appointment, "We did not seem to know the exact details about that point (Lee's past remarks on the Cheonan incident)," and added, "The government's announcement on the Cheonan incident is official, and I trust that announcement."
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