Opposition Criticizes Yoon Government Comparing It to 'Seoul Spring'... Ruling Party Calls It a "Political Exploitation"

An Minseok "Comments Comparing Jeon Dugwang and Yoon Seokyeol"
Seong Iljong "Political Propaganda Using Movies"

As opposition figures criticize President Yoon Suk-yeol by comparing him to the film Seoul's Spring, the ruling party has raised its voice, accusing them of politically exploiting the movie.

Earlier, on the 12th, Ahn Min-seok, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, claimed that if Seoul's Spring surpasses 10 million viewers, President Yoon Suk-yeol's approval rating would plummet to the 20% range. He argued that the film's success reflects the cold public sentiment toward the Yoon administration.

On the 44th anniversary of the December 12 military coup, the film "Spring in Seoul," which is based on the December 12 military coup, is being screened at a movie theater in Seoul on the 12th. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On the 13th, Ahn also stated on BBS Radio's Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal, "I am someone who believes that culture changes the world," adding, "Ahead of this general election, it seems the Yoon administration has encountered an unexpected obstacle in the form of Seoul's Spring."

He continued, "It is particularly interesting that the MZ generation, known for its conservative tendencies, is leading the film's success," and said, "People are angry at Jeon Du-gwang (Jeon Du-hwan), and this sentiment overlaps with the current image of the Yoon administration and ruling party, which do not fear the people, according to some viewers' interpretations."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, also mentioned Seoul's Spring, stating, "We will prevent the regression of history and protect the lives of the people." On the 12th, referring to the December 12 military coup, Lee said, "We will clearly remember that Seoul's Spring did not come by itself," adding, "We will engrave in our hearts the tragic history to ensure that the democracy won through bloodshed does not collapse and that the power cartel driven by personal greed does not threaten the lives of the people."

In response, Seong Il-jong, a member of the People Power Party, pointed out that the opposition is abusing Seoul's Spring. On the 12th, through his Facebook, Seong criticized Lee's remarks as "political agitation that seeks to exploit the film politically rather than viewing it as a movie," and noted, "It was President Kim Young-sam's Democratic Liberal Party that dismantled the core group of military officers known as Hanahoe and eradicated defense industry corruption."

Seong added, "Do not try to deceive the public with shallow film politics as if the Democratic Party or Lee Jae-myung did anything to punish the military coup by the new military regime," and said, "The day when a movie about Lee Jae-myung's Seongnam story is made is not far off. I hope he sincerely faces the investigations and trials related to him."