Controversy Over Leading Anti-Communist Youth Group Press Conference... Kim Minjeon "Moved by the Passion"

"Arranged Press Conference to Help Even a Little"
"Refused Baekgoldan Name, Saying It Gives Leftists Justification"
"Youth Should Correct Themselves"

Kim Min-jeon, a member of the People Power Party, expressed her feelings amid controversy after leading a press conference held by the 'Ban-gong Cheongnyeondan' (Anti-Communist Youth Group) supporting President Yoon Seok-yeol.

On the 9th, Kim posted on her social media account, "I was moved by the passion of the youths I met in front of Hannam Elementary School," referring to the Ban-gong Cheongnyeondan. She said, "I felt heartache for those who spent the night enduring the biting snowstorm, and I was also touched by their calls for liberal democracy and transparent election verification." She continued, "Yesterday afternoon, I was contacted by youths in front of Hannam Elementary School asking my office to arrange a press conference. There was no reason to refuse a small effort for them, so I made time between the Education Committee public hearing and the plenary session to hold it today."

Kim Min-jeon, a member of the People Power Party, attended the Anti-Communist Youth Group press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 9th. YouTube channel 'KNN NEWS'

Kim stated, "Just before today's press conference, my staff informed me that the name of the youth organization was Ban-gong Cheongnyeondan. So, I introduced them as such." She added, "Having seen videos of some members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions assaulting police officers, I thought the white fiber helmets were for protection." However, she lamented, "After the press conference, trouble arose. They are just youths supporting President Yoon and do not want the protests to be organized. They do not agree with the name Ban-gong Cheongnyeondan, nor do they want to be called Baekgoldan, as that name gives the leftists a justification. I received a flood of messages saying this."

She also said, "On the other hand, I feel heavy-hearted that arranging the press conference with the intention of helping them even a little seems to have made quite a few youths supporting President Yoon uncomfortable." She continued, "Since this is an unorganized resistance, I believe various opinions exist. And I once again felt that this diversity of thought and spontaneous participation without organization is the source of legitimacy for the youths supporting President Yoon." In conclusion, she added, "The names Ban-gong Cheongnyeondan or Baekgoldan are not matters for me to dictate. I think it is an issue for the youths themselves to discuss and correct through dialogue."

Earlier that day, Kim appeared at the National Assembly Communication Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, at the Ban-gong Cheongnyeondan press conference. She introduced them by saying, "The Baekgoldan, who recently wore white helmets and held protests to defend the presidential residence nearby, is a subordinate organization of the Ban-gong Cheongnyeondan." She added, "They will do their utmost to protect President Yoon and uphold the constitutional order of the Republic of Korea." A representative of Ban-gong Cheongnyeondan emphasized, "Deploying police special forces to attempt to arrest a sitting president is a highly dangerous act that could escalate into a civil war," and stressed, "We will do everything possible to protect President Yoon and uphold the constitutional order of the Republic of Korea."

Lee Jun-seok, Member of the Reform New Party. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Subsequently, Lee Jun-seok, a member of the Reform New Party, sharply criticized on his social media, saying, "Kim does not deserve to be a member of the National Assembly." Lee said, "All citizens are currently worried that President Yoon Seok-yeol’s obstinacy might cause clashes between police, the security office, and other public authorities, or that confrontations between citizens supporting and opposing impeachment in front of the Hannam-dong presidential residence might intensify." He criticized, "How can Kim bring an organization that intends to obstruct public authority enforcement to a National Assembly press conference and promote them in this situation?" Furthermore, he pointed out, "Do you really not know what the term Baekgoldan means in Korea? This is politics that cannot even manage its own filth before the sewage truck arrives." He added, "While the People Power Party pushes out Kim Sang-wook, who acts according to his conscience, it defends Kim, who incites social unrest."