Park Chung-kwon "Choi Min-hee, Even Totalitarian States Would Nod... Apologize to Defectors"

Choi Minhee "Living in a totalitarian state, can't you see the principles of democracy?"
Han Donghoon "Not something you can say to fellow citizens who risked their lives to defect"

On the 29th, Park Chung-kwon, a member of the People Power Party, stated on his social media (SNS), addressing Choi Min-hee, Chairperson of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee, "Did you say that living in a totalitarian state makes you unable to see the principles of democracy?" He added, "Let me make it clear. Even in a totalitarian state, the National Assembly and the operation of the Science and Broadcasting Committee, which would shake their heads, are currently being run by the Democratic Party and Chairperson Choi." Park also said that Chairperson Choi "has internalized totalitarianism very well."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Chairperson Choi said during the full meeting of the National Assembly's Science and Broadcasting Committee that day, "Since you have lived in a totalitarian state, do you not see democratic principles?" and asked, "Does it make sense to use the term 'people's tribunal' here?" This was in response to Park criticizing the confirmation hearing process for Lee Jin-sook, the nominee for Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, saying, "I think this is an abuse of parliamentary immunity by a member of the National Assembly, a serious personal attack, defamation, a collective attack, and a people's tribunal," and questioning, "How long will the Democratic Party keep the Korea Communications Commission in a vegetative state to protect their Red Guards, the MBC Broadcasting Culture Promotion Foundation directors?"

Park also pointed out, "From the first day of the hearing, Chairperson Choi disciplined the nominee by saying, 'Don't try to fight with me,' and even said, 'There is a problem with the nominee's brain structure.' I wonder what to think about a hearing where stones are thrown mindlessly, and if you get hit, fine, if not, whatever."

On SNS, Park criticized, "What you just said is a personal attack. I publicly demand an apology. Apologize to the North Korean defectors who risked their lives to find liberal democracy in South Korea. Do you feel any pangs of conscience?" Additionally, Park attached a post from former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung from the 25th of last month, adding, "But the father of the Democratic Party said, 'Without evidence, it's a people's tribunal.' Isn't it indeed a people's tribunal?"

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, also immediately appealed via SNS, saying, "This is not something you can say to fellow citizens who risked their lives to defect from North Korea," and urged, "Please join the People Power Party in stopping the normalization of discrimination and abusive language."