"Bodyguard Covers Mouth and Drags Out Limbs"
Progressive Party lawmaker Kang Seong-hee caused a commotion while President Yoon Seok-yeol was entering and shaking hands with attendees at the Jeonbuk Special Autonomous Province inauguration ceremony held on the 18th at Moak Hall, Korean Sound Culture Hall in Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, and was being restrained and escorted out by security guards. [Photo by Yonhap News]
Jang Seong-hee, a Progressive Party lawmaker from Jeonju-si Eul, who attended the launch ceremony of Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, revealed that she was forcibly removed by presidential security officers and strongly demanded an apology from the president.
On the 18th, immediately after the launch ceremony, Lawmaker Kang held a press conference at the Jeonbuk Provincial Council and said, "When I greeted President Yoon Seok-yeol at the launch ceremony and told him 'the national policy direction must change,' presidential security officers suddenly rushed in, covered my mouth, dragged me out by my limbs, and threw me out of the venue."
Lawmaker Kang criticized, "During the forcible removal by the security officers, they even took off my glasses," and added, "After that, I was prevented from entering the venue again by the security officers' restraint."
According to Lawmaker Kang, President Yoon and she met during the launch ceremony held that morning at the Korean Sound Culture Hall in Jeonju-si and were shaking hands.
Lawmaker Kang raised her voice, saying, "Even when I tried to re-enter the venue, I was blocked," and asked, "Where else in the Republic of Korea does a member of the National Assembly get dragged out by their limbs like this?"
Lawmaker Kang elaborated, "As a member of the National Assembly representing the people, I only conveyed the greeting, 'If the national policy direction does not change, the people will suffer,'" and added, "Since it was the launch ceremony of the Special Self-Governing Province containing the hopes of Jeonbuk residents, I intended to deliver a customary greeting reflecting the people's sentiments rather than sharp criticism."
Lawmaker Kang added, "Was that one phrase so offensive?" and said, "I will strongly protest to the presidential office regarding today's incident where a lawmaker's mouth was covered and limbs were grabbed to be dragged out of the venue, and demand an apology from the president."
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