"No Different from Reenacting Chun Doohwan's 'Gukpung 81'"
"Intending to Use Independence Fighters as Mere Backdrops"
Presidential Office: "Fulfilling Promise Made at Inauguration"
Representative Ahn Cheolsoo of the People Power Party criticized the planned "National Appointment Ceremony" for President Lee Jaemyung at the upcoming 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, saying, "Do not spend taxpayers' money on Lee Jaemyung's fan concert."
On the 29th, Representative Ahn posted on his Facebook page an article titled, "The Embarrassment of Making Independence Fighters and Patriots the Backdrop for President Lee Jaemyung at the 80th Anniversary of Liberation." He was targeting the presidential office's plan to mobilize 10,000 citizens for a "National Appointment Ceremony" at the August 15th event marking the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day.
The National Appointment Ceremony is scheduled to proceed with citizens reading an appointment letter to officially appoint the president, and President Lee Jaemyung accepting the appointment. Attendees will include people born in 1945, the so-called "Liberation Babies," representatives from the 12 companies first listed on the Korea Stock Exchange in 1956, national merit recipients and war veterans, Korean workers dispatched to Germany, residents from regions at risk of depopulation, K-culture artists, and bereaved families of social disasters. However, according to the presidential office, foreign heads of state will not be invited.
This event is intended to fulfill President Lee Jaemyung's promise from June 4 to hold an appointment ceremony with the people instead of a separate inauguration. However, Representative Ahn commented, "After the 6·3 presidential election, an inauguration ceremony was already held, and he gave a policy speech at the National Assembly. So what is the point of holding another appointment ceremony?" He added, "Is there anyone who does not know that Lee Jaemyung is the president of the Republic of Korea? Does this event have any meaning beyond being a fan concert for President Lee Jaemyung?"
He also said, "I do not see how this is any different from the 'Gukpung 81' event staged by Chun Doohwan's new military regime, now being reenacted in 2025. Furthermore, holding this at the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day means turning independence fighters and patriots into mere backdrops for the president's celebration." He continued, "It is a very frivolous and embarrassing idea. Did President Lee Jaemyung even participate in the independence movement?"
Representative Ahn concluded, "This is a difficult time for the lives of ordinary people. If you still want to throw a party, let the presidential office and Democratic Party lawmakers chip in and hold a modest event." He added, "Why are you trying to hold a massive fan concert in the center of Seoul with taxpayers' money, while at the same time declaring a tax revenue crisis?"
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