Criticism of Offensive Remarks on Grades, Historical Distortion, and Defamation of the Korean Military
The People Power Party and its proportional representation satellite party, People Power Future, strongly condemned the 'inflammatory remarks controversy' surrounding Kim Jun-hyeok, the Democratic Party candidate running in Suwon Jeong, Gyeonggi Province, in the April 10 general election.
On the 6th, Shin Ju-ho, spokesperson for the People Power Party's election campaign committee, criticized, "Kim's book can be described as a 'collection of outrageous remarks,' and the public's disgust only grows with each new inflammatory and outrageous statement revealed from Kim." Shin stated, "In a book published in 2022, Kim defined the roots of kindergartens as pro-Japanese collaborators and reportedly said, 'There is a reason why the Korea Kindergarten Association has become conservative today.' He also disparaged Seoul as a 'vulgar city.'" He added, "Last September on YouTube, he was known to have belittled the armed forces and the Korea Military Academy, claiming that the Korean military violates the spirit of the constitution."
Shin emphasized, "Given the level of offensive remarks directed at comfort women grandmothers, female university students, kindergarten workers, military personnel, and Seoul citizens, Kim is the top offender of 'public disparagement' and is unqualified to be chosen by the people." He continued, "However, it seems that Lee Jae-myung, the party leader, and the Democratic Party have decided that this will not affect the Gyeonggi election outcome and have taken no action against the inflammatory candidate Kim Jun-hyeok, instead choosing to 'endure' the situation. The Democratic Party must uphold the minimum duty to voters and the public."
People Power Future called for Kim's resignation, accusing him of slandering the armed forces. Yoo Yong-won, spokesperson for the election campaign committee, demanded in a statement, "Following sexual slurs and historical distortion, Kim Jun-hyeok, who slandered the armed forces and General Paik Sun-yup, must resign."
They also requested historians to express their stance regarding Kim's inflammatory remarks controversy. Kim Si-gwan, spokesperson, stated in a commentary, "Kim's vulgar historical perception beyond common sense is problematic, but more unforgivable is turning Korea's history and legitimacy into a history of disgrace and humiliation in an instant through various unverified falsehoods."
Kim added, "Claims that Park Chung-hee dealt with comfort women and references to King Yeonsan's swapping are fictitious histories existing only in Kim's 'brain fiction.' We urge historians of the Republic of Korea to join in righteous anger. Historians, please step forward and correct the historical truths distorted by Kim."
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