On the Day of Recruit Yoon's Funeral, Drinking Party... Opposition: "Can True Conservatives Act Like This?"

Lee Jae-myung "Drinking Talk on the Day of the Disciplinary Trainee's Funeral"
Cho Kuk "Is a Young Person's Life Worth Only That Much?"

The opposition criticized President Yoon Seok-yeol for attending a People Power Party lawmakers' workshop and drinking with members on the day of the funeral of an Army trainee who died during military discipline training, saying, "Can a true conservative do this?" and "Is the life of a young person worth only that much to you?"

On the 1st, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, mentioned the trainee's death and the Chae Sang-byeong incident on Facebook, writing, "Drinking on the day of the trainee's funeral during disciplinary training. Obstructing the investigation into the death of the Sujae Support Marine." He then asked, "Can a true conservative do this?"

[Image source=Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Facebook capture]

Cho Guk, leader of the Cho Guk Innovation Party, also criticized at a rally held in front of the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, demanding acceptance of the 'Chae Sang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act,' saying, "Let's forget everything that has passed. Seeing you all relieves my stress and gives me strength. I might get some criticism today. I will go around each table and offer you a congratulatory beer." He added, "This is what the president said at the People Power Party workshop." Cho criticized, "He turned a solemn workshop into a celebratory drinking party," and questioned, "President Yoon seemed to be in a good mood and even did an uppercut ceremony. Do you know what day it was?" He continued, "It was the day of the funeral of the Army trainee who died during disciplinary training," and asked, "I ask President Yoon and the presidential office: Is the life of our young people worth only that much to you?"

Lee Jun-seok, a lawmaker of the Reform New Party, pointed out on Facebook the day before, "There is no sign of taking the safety of soldiers on mandatory service seriously, and the foundation of the conscription system is collapsing," adding, "The commander-in-chief of the armed forces drank the most expensive beer in the world yesterday (on the 30th of last month)."

A funeral ceremony was held for a trainee who collapsed during a disciplinary training session in an outdoor area of a funeral hall in Naju-si, Jeollanam-do, on the morning of the 30th last month and passed away two days later.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The funeral of the trainee who died during military discipline training in the 12th Division was held on the 30th of last month. The deceased collapsed around 5:20 p.m. on the 23rd of last month while undergoing military discipline training at the new recruit training center in Inje, Gangwon Province, and was urgently transferred to a civilian hospital but ultimately passed away on the afternoon of the 25th, two days later. On the day of the funeral, President Yoon attended the 22nd People Power Party lawmakers' workshop held at the Talent Education Training Center in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, and reportedly went around the tables offering beer to lawmakers, saying, "(My aides) told me not to even hold beer, but today I will probably get some criticism."

Meanwhile, the government and the People Power Party plan to hold a high-level party-government council on the 2nd to discuss measures to prevent the recurrence of military safety accidents.