Presidential Office: "Moon also did not attend the April 19 Memorial Ceremony... Cho Kuk is very narcissistic"

Yoon Visits April 19 Democratic Cemetery
"Commemorative Ceremony Attended Once During Each Former President's Term"

The Presidential Office on the 19th directly criticized Jo Guk, leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, who had criticized President Yoon Seok-yeol's absence from the April 19 Revolution memorial ceremony by saying, "Do you dislike meeting opposition party leaders that much?" The office stated, "Not everything revolves around oneself. (Jo) has excessive narcissism."

A senior official from the Presidential Office met with reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office that afternoon and said, "(Jo) served as the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs at the Blue House in 2018 and 2019, and then-President Moon Jae-in also did not attend the memorial ceremony," explaining the situation.

The official added, "(Jo) should know from his time at the Blue House that it is not true that President Yoon avoided meeting opposition leaders because he was reluctant to do so," and criticized, "Today is a day to honor the spirits of the April 19 democratic martyrs, and it is regrettable that such a noble meaning is being stained by political strife."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is greeting the bereaved families of the victims after paying respects at the National April 19th Democratic Cemetery in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, on the 19th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day, President Yoon visited the April 19 Democratic Cemetery in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, along with officials from April 19-related organizations and aides from the Presidential Office, while Prime Minister Han Duck-soo attended the memorial ceremony. Subsequently, not only Jo but also other opposition parties criticized President Yoon's absence from the ceremony, calling it a "thief's visit" and expressing regret.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said to reporters after the event, "The general election was a very important event expressing the sovereign will of the people of the Republic of Korea, and I feel very regretful that President Yoon Seok-yeol did not attend the April 19 Revolution memorial ceremony immediately after the election."

However, the Presidential Office maintains that, traditionally, other past presidents have attended the April 19 Revolution memorial ceremony only once during their terms, and since President Yoon attended last year's ceremony, there is no issue.

Among past presidents, Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Lee Myung-bak, and Moon Jae-in each attended the ceremony once during their terms. Former President Kim attended the 40th anniversary, Lee Myung-bak the 50th, and Moon Jae-in the 60th. Former President Roh attended the 47th, and President Yoon attended the 63rd anniversary ceremony.