Yoon Mi-hyang Attended Chongryon Event... Ruling Party Says "She Has No Right as a Citizen, Must Resign from Assembly"

The People Power Party has called for the resignation of independent lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang, who attended the memorial ceremony for the massacre of Koreans during the Kanto Earthquake hosted by the pro-North Korean organization General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon).

Independent lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Hwang Gyu-hwan, the chief deputy spokesperson, stated in a commentary on the 2nd, "This is essentially a state subversion attempt event by an anti-state organization threatening the Republic of Korea, and lawmaker Yoon’s silence is tantamount to endorsing it." He added, "It is outrageous enough that a member of the National Assembly openly attended an event hosted by a pro-North Korean group, but to hear that she even received assistance from the National Assembly Secretariat and the Korean Embassy in Japan to attend is simply shocking." He continued, "Since Yoon’s husband and even her aides have already been investigated or charged with violating the National Security Act, this matter cannot be taken lightly."

Furthermore, he said, "Not only did she profit personally by exploiting the historical pain and suffering of comfort women victims, but now Yoon, who boldly attends anti-state organization events, no longer qualifies as a citizen of the Republic of Korea." He emphasized, "She must immediately resign from her position as a lawmaker, and investigations should be conducted into the circumstances of her attendance as well as the related agencies involved."

Earlier, lawmaker Yoon attended the memorial ceremony hosted by Chongryon held at Yokoamicho Park in Tokyo, Japan, the previous day. The event was attended by Chongryon leadership including Chairman Heo Jong-man and First Vice Chairman Park Gu-ho, and it was reported that Ko Deok-woo, chairman of Chongryon’s Tokyo headquarters, used the term "South Korean puppet party."

Jang Dong-hyuk, the floor spokesperson, also commented, calling it a "blatant pro-North Korean move," and questioned the Democratic Party of Korea, "Why are you shielding lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang so tightly?" He added, "The threat to the Republic of Korea’s system is ongoing even in 2023, and such acts are becoming more blatant. Is warning against anti-state forces now considered ideological debate and division?"

He further stated, "There is no reason to tolerate forces threatening the Republic of Korea’s system while hiding behind political slogans of ideological debate and division. Those who, despite witnessing this reality, try to dismiss President Yoon Suk-yeol’s calls to protect liberal democracy as ideological debate must also remember that they are anti-state forces," he emphasized.