Yoon Sang-hyun Criticizes Tractor Protest... "A Club Is the Answer to Riotous Forces"

"Undermining Public Authority and Threatening Citizen Safety"
"Must Never Be Allowed to Raise Their Heads Again"
"Police Succumbed to Pressure from Democratic Party Lawmakers"

Yoon Sang-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, criticized the National Farmers' Federation (Jeonnong) and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (Minju-nochong), which held protests last weekend, calling them "rioters threatening public safety."

On the 23rd, Yoon posted a message on his social media account criticizing the tractor protests. He opened by saying, "The tractor protests by Minju-nochong and Jeonnong in downtown Seoul last weekend and the clashes with the police were shocking incidents that incapacitated public authority and seriously threatened citizens' safety and public order." He continued, "The reckless act of trying to lift a police bus with tractors and the attempt to break through the police line to enter the presidential residence are clear illegal acts and riots that threaten public safety," adding, "Such attempts must never be allowed to rise again, and strict legal responsibility must be imposed."

Yoon Sang-hyun, Member of the People Power Party. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

Yoon explained, "Since the emergency martial law situation on December 3, amid nationwide chaos over pro- and anti-impeachment rallies, Minju-nochong has been openly escalating anti-government protest sentiments," and added, "On the 12th, Minju-nochong deviated from the originally reported area around Namyeong Station and launched a surprise advance toward the Yongsan Presidential Office and Hannam-dong residence. Also, during the regime resignation rally on the 9th of last month, a large-scale clash between police and protesters resulted in 105 police officers injured and 10 Minju-nochong members arrested on charges of assaulting police officers." Furthermore, he pointed out, "Five opposition parties including the Democratic Party demanded an apology and punishment, claiming that the police used violent suppression during Minju-nochong's downtown Seoul rallies. When Commissioner Jo Ji-ho refused to apologize, the police budget was cut. Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung threatened, saying, 'They called themselves the people's staff, but they have become the power's cudgel wielded against the people. This behavior must be thoroughly reformed.'"

Yoon then directed criticism at Lee Jae-myung, saying, "The target of the warning is wrong. The behavior that must be reformed is with the forces that carried out illegal protests," and added, "The answer to the rioters who undermine public authority and threaten public safety is a cudgel." He also said, "Initially, the police issued a 'restricted notice' to Jeonnong's tractor march citing inconvenience to citizens. However, as protests from Democratic Party lawmakers including Kim Seong-hoe and Minju-nochong continued, the police lifted the blockade and allowed 10 tractors to enter downtown Seoul," and criticized, "The police yielded to pressure from the Democratic Party and allowed the protest tractors to enter. Acting Commissioner Lee Ho-young should ask himself whom he serves. Despite his duty as the head of the police organization, he shamefully yielded to pressure from Democratic Party lawmakers."

He emphasized, "The moment public authority kneels to political pressure, social law and order inevitably collapse," and stressed, "Acting Commissioner Lee Ho-young must exercise public authority unwaveringly against any external pressure and thoroughly pursue and hold accountable those responsible for leading illegal protests." Finally, he added, "Public order and the rule of law can never be subjects of compromise. The police must faithfully fulfill their fundamental duties and ensure the safety and order of society."