Office of the Lawmaker: "Local Residents Requested... We Didn't Know Who They Were"
It has recently come to light that congratulatory flags from two members of the National Assembly representing the Busan area were displayed at the wedding of an executive of the Chilseongpa, the largest violent organization in the Busan region, sparking controversy.
On the 8th, Yonhap News reported that such an incident occurred at the wedding of executive A of the violent organization Chilseongpa, held on the 23rd of last month at a hotel in downtown Busan. Mr. A, in his 60s, was a well-known figure who once served as the action leader of Chilseongpa. Although his influence has waned recently due to age, he is still reportedly treated as an executive-level member. Chilseongpa is the largest violent organization in Busan and was widely publicized through the movie Friend. The movie Friend depicts the tragic outcome of two childhood friends who, as adults, join opposing violent organizations. The main motif of this film was based on a 1993 incident where a Chilseongpa executive mobilized junior members to murder a member of the Shin 20th Century faction.
On that day, congratulatory flags from two incumbent National Assembly members representing Busan were reportedly displayed at Mr. A’s wedding. This has led to criticism that it was inappropriate for flags from sitting lawmakers to be present at the wedding of a violent organization executive. Both lawmakers have explained that it was a "mistake caused by not knowing Mr. A’s identity."
A secretary to one lawmaker told Yonhap News, "We received a request to send congratulatory flags for a local resident’s wedding, so we sent them," adding, "We usually send flags when requested." He further stated, "If we had known he was a member of a violent organization, we would not have sent them." A representative from the other lawmaker’s office expressed a similar position, saying, "One of our party members asked us to send flags because the groom was a friend, so we did. If we had known, would we have sent them? We are also shocked by this incident."
Meanwhile, Chilseongpa has dominated the Busan organized crime scene since the 1970s, primarily deriving income from entertainment establishments. The organization reportedly has about 200 members and has expanded into areas such as liquidation of bankrupt companies, building demolition services, and real estate. Since the 1980s, Chilseongpa has maintained a rivalry with the Shin 20th Century faction, and the two groups have even fought in public places recently to assert regional dominance, causing anxiety and fear among citizens.
In July, eight members of the two organizations were sentenced to prison for engaging in a group brawl in a busy district during the early morning hours. On October 17, 2021, in Seomyeon, Busanjin-gu?a bustling area?they engaged in a group fight following a dispute. At the time, they flaunted their power by performing a "90-degree bow" in front of citizens. The prosecution charged them not with simple assault but with organized and collective criminal group activities, bringing the case to trial.
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