Democratic Party: "People Power Party Must Sever Ties with Far-Right Groups"
People Power Party: "Lee Jae-myung's Mobilized Crowd Cannot Cover Up Public Sentiment"
The ruling and opposition parties clashed over the pro and anti-impeachment rallies for President Yoon Suk-yeol. When the opposition party criticized the ruling party lawmakers' 'pledge of loyalty,' the ruling party countered by calling it a 'far-right smear campaign.'
No Jong-myeon, the floor spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized in a written briefing on the 9th, "You made a fuss over opposition lawmakers attending the impeachment rally, but ruling party lawmakers attend rallies where they attack judges and even change the national anthem to pledge loyalty."
No spokesperson introduced, "Incumbent lawmakers of the People Power Party massively attended the Save Korea rally at Dongdaegu Station, which is known as a far-right Protestant group. At the rally, there were rampant attacks on the judiciary and conspiracy theories about election fraud. If something does not meet their standards, they label even legally recognized organizations as pro-North Korean and even call for the dissolution of the Constitutional Court."
On the afternoon of the 8th, Lee Cheol-woo, Governor of Gyeongbuk Province, and members of the National Assembly from the People Power Party representing Daegu and Gyeongbuk, stood on the podium at the National Emergency Prayer Meeting held at Dongdaegu Station Plaza, greeting the participants of the gathering. Photo by Yonhap News
He further pointed out not only the attendance of lawmakers Kang Dae-sik, Kwon Young-jin, Kim Seung-su, Yoon Jae-ok, Lee Dal-hee, Lee Man-hee, Lee In-seon, and Jo Ji-yeon at the rally but also that the host called them on stage to greet the crowd as a 'pledge of loyalty.'
Additionally, he criticized Gyeongbuk Governor Lee Cheol-woo for mentioning, despite the prohibition of political acts, "Thanks to you all, God protects this country, and miracles happen when God helps," expressing sympathy with the rally's purpose despite the ban on political acts.
No spokesperson warned, "The People Power Party must sever all ties with far-right groups as a ruling party and a public party. If they absolutely cannot do so, they should at least officially declare their position and boldly accept the judgment of the people."
In response, the People Power Party pushed back.
Suh Ji-young, the floor spokesperson for the People Power Party, pointed out, "If you criticize the Democratic Party, it's 'sedition incitement,' and are the people criticizing the Democratic Party 'far-right'?" She said, "As the number of people participating in rallies criticizing the Democratic Party exponentially increased, the Democratic Party began to disparage the participants as 'far-right'."
On the afternoon of the 8th, the 18th Yoon Seok-yeol Resignation Daegu Citizens' Rally, hosted by the Yoon Seok-yeol Resignation Daegu National Council, is being held in Dongsung-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu. Photo by Yonhap News
Suh spokesperson criticized, "This is the Democratic Party's trademark tactic of dividing the people and intimidation, launching a 'far-right smear campaign.' Unable to stop the rapidly spreading voices of criticism, they are now demonizing the people criticizing the Democratic Party by applying the 'far-right frame.'"
She said, "Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party leader, directly issued a mobilization order for the Gwanghwamun Square rally, saying 'The sedition has not ended.' 'Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party' tries to cover up the voices of hundreds of thousands or tens of thousands criticizing the Democratic Party with the 'mobilized' crowd, but instead of being silenced, the voices will only grow louder."
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