Yoon Sang-hyun: "Tractor Protest, an Attempt by Pro-North Leftists to Destabilize the System"

"Protest Leaders Are Not Pure Farmers," Claim

Yoon Sang-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, claimed that the tractor protests by the National Farmers' Federation (Jeonnong) and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (Minju-nochong) are "attempts by pro-North leftists to disrupt the South Korean system."

On the 26th, Yoon wrote on his social media account, "Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, intimidated the police and even cut their budget despite 105 police officers being injured and union members being arrested due to Minju-nochong's illegal protests on the 9th of last month." He added, "I responded by saying 'the answer to the rioters is a club,' pointing out that the target of criticism was wrong, but some groups have extracted only this part to create headlines and attack." He argued, "The Democratic Party should be the one to offer a sincere apology as they are hiding the essence of the protests and pressuring the police." He further stated, "Looking into the essence of the protests, a dangerous shadow aiming to overthrow the South Korean system looms larger than the desperate voices of the farmers."

Yoon Sang-hyun, Member of the People Power Party. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

First, Yoon said, "The leaders of the protests are not pure farmers." He explained, "Jeonnong is a representative pro-North organization that has called for the abolition of the National Security Act, defended the unconstitutional Unified Progressive Party, and mourned the death of Kim Jong-il." He added, "Ha Won-oh, the former chairman of Jeonnong who led this tractor protest, previously served as the representative of the Gyeongnam Progressive Union, which was involved in the Changwon spy ring case. Therefore, it is difficult to see them as representing the pure voices of farmers."

Additionally, Yoon claimed, "The tractors used in the protests are also full of suspicions," stating, "The tractors bearing the slogan 'Lift North Korea Sanctions' were purchased in 2019 when the Moon Jae-in administration argued for lifting sanctions based on the 'April 27 Panmunjom Declaration,' but these tractors were never delivered to the North, according to analyses." He continued, "It is shocking that this equipment, procured with taxpayers' money, is now being used as a tool for protests by pro-North leftists." He wrote, "If it is clear that these were used in illegal protests, they should rightfully be reclaimed by the government."

Yoon concluded, "All these circumstances clearly indicate that this tractor protest is an attempt by pro-North leftists, disguised as farmers, to disrupt the South Korean system." He emphasized, "Our political circles, who should sincerely worry about and resolve the difficulties and hardships of farmers, must not be swayed by such provocative acts of system disruption. Democratic Party lawmakers persuading the acting commissioner of the National Police Agency to allow protesters to enter the city center is tantamount to supporting their attempt to shake the system."