"A Precious Treasure, the Jingwansa Taegeukgi"
"Being Accused of Flag Desecration for Wearing a Damaged Taegeukgi"
President Lee Jae Myung attending the Memorial Day ceremony. He wore a Taegeukgi badge on his chest. Photo by Yonhap News
Attorney Koo Juwa, who was the presidential candidate for the Free Unification Party, filed a criminal complaint against President Lee Jae Myung and National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonsik on charges of flag desecration. In response, Speaker Woo replied, "I just laugh."
On June 10, Speaker Woo posted on his Facebook account, "This is the precious treasure 'Jingwansa Taegeukgi,' used during the March 1st Movement, which I proudly wear on my chest," and made the above statement.
Speaker Woo said, "I gave President Lee Jae Myung the Taegeukgi badge to signify the importance of reaffirming our national identity at this time," and added, "They say I have been reported for flag desecration because I wore a damaged Taegeukgi. I just laugh."
Previously, on June 4, Speaker Woo had presented the 'Jingwansa Taegeukgi' badge to President Lee at a luncheon commemorating the President's inauguration held at Sarangjae in the National Assembly. The 'Jingwansa Taegeukgi' is an artifact believed to have been used shortly after the March 1st Movement; it is a Taegeukgi that was painted over a Japanese flag with ink to express anti-Japanese sentiment. The reason the badge presented to the President has a cut corner is because it faithfully reproduces the burn marks and signs of damage found on the original Taegeukgi.
Woo Wonsik, Speaker of the National Assembly, and Woo Sangho, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs, are having a conversation.
Attorney Koo posted on his YouTube channel the previous day, stating, "I have filed a criminal complaint against Lee Jae Myung and Woo Wonsik for violating Article 105 of the Criminal Act, the flag desecration law," along with a photo of the complaint. He wrote, "Have you ever seen a case overseas where a president wears a torn national flag on his chest?" and continued, "When restoring artifacts, it is common sense to repair torn or damaged parts to their original form. This should be especially true for a national flag."
He went on to say, "If, when the Jingwansa Taegeukgi was discovered, it had been covered in filth or dust, would Lee Jae Myung have come out wearing filth on his chest? Then why did he insist on wearing the torn part as it is? It is because he is delighted that the Taegeukgi is torn." Attorney Koo argued that President Lee and Speaker Woo should be severely punished, reiterating, "'Jingwansa Taegeukgi' is just an excuse, and what the accused truly want is to tear apart the Taegeukgi of the Republic of Korea."
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