"What on earth were they thinking when proposing the 'Repeal of the Ban on the Rising Sun Flag' Ordinance?"

Seoul City Council Member Lee Min-ok (Seongdong 3) sharply criticizes last-minute withdrawal of ordinance to repeal ban on Rising Sun Flag at council plenary session... Internal criticism arises questioning what Chief Whip Choi Ho-jung of the ruling People Power Party, the majority in Seoul City Council, did when the ordinance was proposed, drawing attention

Just before the April 10 general election, Seoul city council members who advocated for the repeal of the ordinance banning the Rising Sun Flag later withdrew their proposal at the last minute and were reportedly verbally warned by the People Power Party's central party.

This was revealed during a 5-minute free speech at the city council plenary session on the afternoon of the 26th by Lee Min-ok, a Seoul city council member from the Democratic Party of Korea (Seongdong 3). Councilor Lee said, “I have heard rumors that the party only issued a verbal warning to one of the main proposers. If this is true, it is truly cowardly,” sharply criticizing.

Councilor Lee argued, “The Nazi flag with the hooked cross is still restricted throughout Europe to prevent the resurgence of far-right totalitarian forces,” adding, “Symbols are not just simple marks. Because symbols can be politically used to influence thoughts and change behavior, they are restricted and strictly controlled.”

She further criticized, “Citizens are watching the People Power Party, which is loyal to Japan but harshly opposes the repeal of the ordinance that aims to protect students' human rights.”

Kim Gil-young (Gangnam 6), the senior deputy floor leader of the People Power Party in the Seoul city council, along with 19 other council members, proposed the “Ordinance to Repeal the Restriction on the Use of Japanese Imperialist Symbols in Seoul” on the 3rd. At that time, Han Dong-hoon, the emergency committee chairman and election campaign committee chairman, warned, “The use of Japanese imperialist symbols in public places is absolutely unacceptable, and we strongly oppose the repeal of the ordinance. The party will investigate and take strict measures.”

Accordingly, on the afternoon of the 4th, the ordinance was withdrawn, citing “there was a possibility of misunderstanding.”

As this fact became known, citizens criticized, saying, “What on earth are the People Power Party Seoul city council members thinking?” and “It is absolutely unacceptable that they had such an idea ahead of a crucial general election.”

There was also internal criticism questioning what Floor Leader Choi Ho-jung, from the People Power Party which holds the majority in the Seoul city council, was doing when the senior deputy floor leader proposed such an absurd ordinance without any intervention.

One Seoul city council member expressed disappointment, saying, “Given the political level of the ruling party’s People Power Party Seoul city council members is this low, how can they be trusted?”