Kim Woong: "Opposition's Hatred of Defectors is an Incurable Disease... Can't Understand Except as a Jongbuk Fetish"

Recalling Im Su-kyung's Past Remark Calling Defectors 'Rootless'

Democratic Party lawmakers have sparked controversy by calling Tae Young-ho, a People Power Party lawmaker, "trash from North Korea," while Kim Woong, a People Power Party lawmaker, pointed out that "the Democratic Party's hatred of defectors is an incurable disease that will never be cured."

On the 8th, Kim posted on his social media, "Putting aside Tae's April 3 remarks, shouting 'trash' at Tae during a National Assembly plenary session is a very shameful act," and criticized, "Even a common thug wouldn't do such a thing."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, during a government questioning session at the National Assembly, Tae said, "The political forces using the discharge of contaminated water as a political opportunity are practically the North Korean Workers' Party, the Chinese Communist Party, and the Democratic Party of Korea," and Park Young-soon of the Democratic Party criticized Tae with harsh language such as "Trash came from North Korea."

Kim said, "Even if you don't like Tae's thoughts, don't frame it as being from a defector," adding, "Then try talking about unification; can that happen while promoting hatred against defectors like this?"

Kim also recalled defector-related controversies involving the opposition, saying, "In the past, Im Soo-kyung shouted at a defector student, 'You rootless defector bastard, how dare you talk back to a lawmaker?'" Im Soo-kyung, a former lawmaker, served as a proportional representative for the Democratic United Party, the predecessor of the Democratic Party, in the 19th general election in 2012.

He criticized, "During the Moon Jae-in administration, defectors were handed back to the North in violation of due process because they were suspects in murder cases. Those who loudly proclaimed the presumption of innocence for Cho Kuk (former Minister of Justice) also said that the drifting Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official was a defector to the North and deserved to be shot. I cannot understand that worldview except as a pro-North fetish."