Criticism Over Absence at YS 10th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony
"Not even a single member of the Democratic Party was present."
Kim Hyuncheol, the second son of the late former President Kim Youngsam and chairman of the Kim Youngsam Presidential Foundation, criticized the Democratic Party regarding the memorial ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of former President Kim's passing.
Kim Hyuncheol, son of former President Kim Youngsam and chairman of the Kim Youngsam Presidential Foundation, is offering incense at the memorial service held on the 10th anniversary of former President Kim Youngsam's passing at the National Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul on the 21st. Yonhap News Agency (Joint Coverage Team)
On this day, through his social media account, Chairman Kim pointed out that "On the 10th anniversary of former President Kim Youngsam's passing, President Lee Jaemyung sent his chief of staff to deliver a memorial speech by proxy," highlighting the absence of Democratic Party leadership at the event.
He continued, "This kind of behavior is why people call you avatars of Gae-ddal and Kim Eo-jun," adding, "You fail to see the beam in your own eye, so isn't it only a matter of time before you collapse?" He sarcastically remarked, "I look forward to the next local elections."
Kim Inkyu, the grandson of Kim Youngsam and Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, also commented the previous day, "It is regrettable that the spirit of unity and harmony, which was YS's dying injunction, has been trampled upon and the memorial ceremony has become a subject of political strife." He added, "I had hoped for both the ruling and opposition parties to gather together, but instead, it seems to have become a symbolic occasion marking the beginning of a new era of dictatorship, which I find deeply unfortunate."
At the memorial ceremony held the previous day at the National Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, the government was represented by Yoon Hojoong, Minister of the Interior and Safety, and Kwon Oeul, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. From the presidential office, Kang Hoonshik, Chief of Staff, and Woo Sangho, Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs, attended. National Assembly Deputy Speaker Joo Hoeyoung, People Power Party leader Jang Donghyuk, and Chun Haram, floor leader of the Reform Party, were also present.
Memorial Ceremony for Former President Kim Youngsam, Absent from the Democratic Party. Yonhap News Agency (Joint Reporters)
On this day, President Lee Jaemyung, in a memorial address delivered by Chief of Staff Kang Hoonshik, stated, "We are following in the footsteps of former President Kim, upholding the values of freedom, justice, and peace, and moving toward a better democracy."
The Democratic Party sent only a funeral wreath in the name of its leader, Jung Chungrae. This is the first time since the memorial ceremony for the first anniversary in 2016 that the Democratic Party leadership has not attended. It was reported that the Democratic Party did not attend due to scheduling conflicts.
At last year's ninth anniversary ceremony, Park Chandae, then floor leader, attended and delivered a memorial speech. In 2021, then-presidential candidate Lee Jaemyung and then-Democratic Party leader Song Younggil also attended. An official from the organizing committee stated, "The Democratic Party said they would try to adjust their schedule, so we left seats open for them," adding, "It seems there was a scheduling mix-up." Park Soo-hyun, the Democratic Party's chief spokesperson, explained to reporters at the National Assembly on this day, "In accordance with custom, we sent a funeral wreath in the name of (Jung Chungrae) the party leader."
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