Why the Democratic Party is Pressuring Yoon Mi-hyang over the Chongryon Controversy

People Power Party "Democratic Party Accustomed to Selective Silence"
Amid Democratic Party's Caution, Calls to "Consider Nature of Event" Also Raised

Independent lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang is once again at the center of an ideological controversy over her attendance at a memorial ceremony for the Great Kanto Earthquake hosted by the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon). The People Power Party intensified its ideological offensive, claiming she "went to a pro-North Korean organization and showed sympathy." Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Korea has refrained from issuing an official statement and is observing the situation.

Yoon herself criticized the ruling party's attacks as an "ideological witch hunt." In a statement released on the 5th, Yoon said, "Japanese civil society has prepared large-scale memorial events for the genocide crimes committed against Koreans 100 years ago, and many people from different regions, generations, and ideologies participated together. However, only the conservative Korean media and the People Power Party are inflicting wounds again on the victims of the Kanto massacre through ideological witch hunts," she asserted.

She further claimed that the memorial executive committee organizing the 100th anniversary memorial project for the Kanto massacre victims includes about 100 organizations from various sectors in Japan and even Chinese groups, with Chongryon being just one among them.

Yoon stated, "Chongryon exists everywhere in Japanese civil society. Through my 30 years of activism to resolve the Japanese military 'comfort women' issue, I have connections with many people from the Tokyo Korean Forced Mobilization Investigation Team on the Japanese side and the Peace Forum. Even if I had not been invited by the Korean organizing committee, I would have participated in the memorial event at the request of Japanese civil society."

Independent lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang is attending the National Assembly plenary session on the afternoon of the 5th and is being questioned by reporters about the controversy surrounding her attendance at the memorial ceremony for Koreans massacred during the Kanto Earthquake, hosted by Chongryon. 2023.9.5
uwg806@yna.co.kr
(End) [Image source=Yonhap News]

The People Power Party has been pouring criticism on Yoon's participation in the event. On the 6th, Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member, appeared on YTN Radio's 'News King with Park Ji-hoon' and said, "It may fall under the National Security Act, but some sanctions should be imposed," adding, "It is truly shameful that this person still remains a member of the National Assembly."

Kim further argued, "Chongryon, in a way, has engaged in hostile acts against the South Korean government, was involved in the Moon Se-gwang incident in the past, served as a base for espionage activities, and further played a role in assisting North Korea's invasion and provocations. For a South Korean lawmaker to go there and be active is beyond pro-North Korean behavior; it represents acting as a spokesperson for the North Korean government."

Kim Jae-seop, the People Power Party's Dobong-gap district chairman, also called for Yoon's resignation. On the same day on YTN Radio, he responded to Yoon's claim that Chongryon was only one of the host organizations of the memorial project by saying, "The groups associated with Chongryon are civic organizations and institutions that emerged from the Japanese Socialist Party faction, and their common characteristic is opposing the South Korean constitutional system and supporting a pro-North Korean regime. It's not just Chongryon that's problematic; most of the organizations there are problematic."

However, the Democratic Party has not issued any official stance regarding the controversy over Yoon's attendance at the Chongryon event. On the 5th, spokesperson Kim Han-gyu told reporters after a floor strategy meeting, "Our party has no separate position," adding, "I believe the Ethics Committee will verify the facts and carefully review the matter."

Independent lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang attended the memorial event for Korean victims of the Great Kanto Earthquake's 100th anniversary held at Yokoamicho Park in Sumida Ward, Tokyo, Japan, on the 1st, waiting to lay flowers at the memorial stone. [Image source=Yoon Mi-hyang's Facebook, Yonhap News]

Yoon, who was expelled from the Democratic Party in 2021 over allegations of real estate name-trust fraud, is currently an independent lawmaker, so the Democratic Party is not obligated to issue a position. However, People Power Party leader Kim Ki-hyun and floor leader Yoon Jae-ok urged the party to make an official statement, with Kim Ki-hyun calling the Democratic Party "accustomed to selective silence" and Yoon Jae-ok saying, "Although her status is independent, everyone knows that Yoon is effectively acting as a Democratic Party lawmaker," thereby reaffirming Yoon's roots in the Democratic Party.

The ruling party is making it clear that this is not just a personal issue for Yoon but a matter for which the Democratic Party must take political responsibility together.

Within the Democratic Party, some voices defend Yoon. On the 5th, lawmaker Park Joo-min said on SBS Radio, "Is there clear evidence to definitively label this as anti-state behavior? Attending an event organized by such a group does not automatically constitute anti-state behavior," suggesting that the nature of the event commemorating the Kanto Earthquake massacre and the purpose of attendance should be carefully considered.

Former Supreme Council member Park Sung-min said on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' "Some media and People Power Party figures attack as if it were an event solely hosted by Chongryon, but that is not the case," adding, "I think it should be clarified that Yoon was not invited by Chongryon."

Park further stated, "It is an excessive attack to distort Yoon's explanation that she was invited by the Korean Promotion Committee for the 100th Anniversary Memorial Project of the Kanto Massacre in Korea and to claim that she went there to contact Chongryon."