Minju on "Is the President also New Right?" question... "You don't even know the meaning"

National Assembly Steering Committee 'Pro-Japanese Government' Controversy
Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of National Security Office
"Completely Unrelated to Such Issues"

On the 27th, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the government's 'pro-Japanese' controversy during the full meeting of the National Assembly Steering Committee. The opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized the Yoon Seok-yeol administration for appointing New Right figures and attempting to erase Dokdo. In response, the ruling party defended the government, accusing the opposition of spreading 'rumors.'

The National Assembly Steering Committee held a full meeting that day and received a work report from the Presidential Office. Attending the meeting were Shin Won-sik, Director of the National Security Office; Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office; and Sung Tae-yoon, Director of the Policy Office, among other presidential aides.

Kim Tae-hyo, the First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, is attending the full meeting of the Steering Committee held at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The opposition claimed that the Yoon administration has recently continued pro-Japanese actions. Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Mi-hwa asked Deputy Director Kim, "People are calling you a 'pro-Japanese mole.' Do you have any idea why?" Kim replied, "I have been saying that we should manage Japan's sentiments well and confidently lead Korea-Japan relations."

Previously, in a media interview, Deputy Director Kim stated, "If Japan turns away from historical issues and does not say what is necessary, we must sternly question and attempt change, but the important thing is Japan's mindset," remarks that seemed to represent Japan.

The controversy over New Right appointments by the Yoon administration was also raised. Lawmaker Seo claimed that President Yoon Seok-yeol appointed New Right figures as Minister of National Defense, Minister of Unification, and Director of the Independence Hall, asking, "Is President Yoon also New Right?" Kim responded, "The President is unrelated to this issue to the extent that he does not know the exact meaning of New Right."

Lawmaker Shin Jang-sik of the Party for National Renewal pointed out that Kim had signed the 'Declaration of 100 New Right Intellectuals' supporting candidate Lee Myung-bak in the 2007 presidential election and asked if he was New Right. Kim answered, "No."

The People Power Party criticized the opposition for causing public harm with rumors about the discharge of contaminated water from Fukushima. Lawmaker Kwon Young-jin of the People Power Party said, "Over the past year, 49,633 radiation tests were conducted on our waters and seafood, and not a single case exceeded radiation safety standards," questioning, "Was the opposition's claim scientifically incorrect?"

In response, Director Sung of the Policy Office said, "We invested 1.6 trillion won in testing the relevant waters," implying that an excessive budget was spent. Then, Lawmaker Kwon criticized, "While the President says he will respond fully to anti-state forces, the opposition is again raising martial law suspicions. This is a form of agitation to create a climate of fear."