"National Assembly Press Room Degenerates into a Platform for Sophistry"
Director Kim Criticized for Saying "Independence Was a Gift from the Allied Victory"
On September 8, the Democratic Party of Korea called for the immediate resignation of Kim Hyungseok, director of the Independence Hall, accusing him of "inciting chaos at the National Assembly."
Kim Hyungseok, director of the Independence Hall, is leaving the press conference venue amid protests from civic groups after concluding the "Restoring the Independence Hall" press conference at the National Assembly communication office on the 8th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Members of the Democratic Party serving on the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee held a press conference at the National Assembly communication office that afternoon, stating, "Kim Hyungseok, who has habitually provoked public outrage, today caused an unprecedented disturbance at the National Assembly, the hall of the people's will."
Democratic Party members of the Political Affairs Committee, including Assemblyman Kim Yongman, a great-grandson of Kim Koo, as well as Park Beomgye, Lee Jeongmoon, and Heo Young, strongly criticized, "Kim Hyungseok's press conference today was flawed in its purpose, procedure, and content. It was nothing but a riot that mocked the National Assembly and insulted the people."
They continued, "Kim Hyungseok has repeatedly dismissed the suspicions regarding his New Right historical perspective and the alleged misuse and poor management of internal facilities as 'malicious distortion.' He has labeled the resistance from independence organizations and citizens demanding his resignation as illegal, and even went so far as to falsely claim that the Democratic Party was behind these protests."
They further pointed out, "He turned the press conference into a platform to promote his public appeal and the so-called 'Citizens' Solidarity for Normalizing the Independence Hall,' an organization of dubious origin. As a result, the press conference venue degenerated into a space for spouting sophistry."
They emphasized, "If Kim Hyungseok insists on clinging to his position as director of the Independence Hall by invoking an absurd sense of victimhood, the Democratic Party will make every effort, including recommending his dismissal, to bring an end to the era of Kim Hyungseok, the ringleader of this riot."
Democratic Party spokesperson Kim Jiho also issued a written briefing that afternoon, stating, "Director Kim's press conference at the National Assembly communication office today was nothing more than a performance to evade historical responsibility. Director Kim must take responsibility for his historical views and remarks and resign immediately."
That morning, Director Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly communication office, arranged by People Power Party lawmaker Kim Minjeon, where he claimed that the controversy over his Liberation Day address was a "malicious distortion" and announced plans to take legal action against certain media reports and the protest activities of some organizations. He also asserted that Democratic Party members from the Cheonan region were leading the protests blocking his entry to work.
At the same time, descendants of independence activists and citizens who visited the National Assembly confronted Director Kim at the communication office, immediately protesting his press conference. During this process, a physical altercation broke out between those defending Director Kim and the protesters, resulting in injuries.
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