Hong Joonpyo Criticizes Lee Jinsook as "Don Quixote Who Has Forgotten the Spirit of the Times"... Criticism Also Emerges from Opposition Party

"May 18 Became a Myth Long Ago... Denial Rejects the Spirit of the Times"

Democratic Party Submits Resolution Demanding Expulsion of Assemblywoman Lee

Amid ongoing controversy over the forum "Reexamination of the May 18 Democratization Movement" hosted by Lee Jin-sook, a member of the People Power Party, criticism has also emerged from within the conservative camp.

Hong Jun-pyo, former Mayor of Daegu. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

On August 15, former Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo commented on Facebook about Assemblywoman Lee, stating, "Is she a lonely warrior or a Don Quixote who has forgotten the spirit of the times?" He continued, "The May 18 Democratization Movement became a myth long ago. To deny and devalue it is to reject the spirit of the times. No attempt to use a tragic period in history as a stepping stone for one's own political advantage should ever be tolerated," he emphasized.

Former Mayor Hong further stated, "Right after May 18, 1980, while serving at a military base in Buan, North Jeolla Province, what I heard about May 18 was horrific." He continued, "Those who exploit May 18 deserve criticism, but the movement itself should never be denounced." He added, "I have called for the list of May 18 honorees to be openly disclosed, as they are national honorees, but I have never devalued or criticized the May 18 movement itself."

On the same day, Assemblyman Park Sumin of the People Power Party also criticized, saying, "To deny or undermine the historical significance of the May 18 Democratization Movement is self-destructive to the values of liberal democracy that we must uphold," adding, "It is also an act of disregarding the innocent citizens who sacrificed their lives for democracy." Assemblyman Park stated, "If such incidents continue within the People Power Party, it will once again cause political wounds to a party that is striving to regain the public's trust," urging, "I hope Assemblywoman Lee will offer a prompt and clear apology to the nation, to history, to the people, and to party members."

Choi Eunseok, the chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, stated the previous day, "This aspect is inappropriate and should not be repeated in the future," adding, "Our party's stance is firmly to carry forward the spirit of democratization in all aspects of modern history."

Lee Jin-sook, member of the People Power Party, is giving a greeting speech at the "Re-examination of the May 18 Democratic Movement National Assembly Public Forum" hosted at the National Assembly Library Auditorium on the 13th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Prior to this, Assemblywoman Lee held a public forum on August 13 at the National Assembly Library Auditorium under the theme "Reexamination of the May 18 Democratization Movement." At the forum, Lee Younghoon, a co-representative of the New History National Movement and known as a New Right scholar, denied the May 18 Democratization Movement, referring to it as "ten days of unrest in Gwangju in May 1980."

As the content of the forum became controversial, Assemblywoman Lee held an emergency press conference the following day, rebutting, "If one insists that there is no need for further discussion because May 18 is designated as a democratization movement by special law, then May 18 has become not only a sanctuary but already a myth," and questioned, "Does this mean that no discussion should be allowed about incidents protected by special law?"

In response, organizations including the Daegu Metropolitan Party of the Democratic Party of Korea held a press conference near Assemblywoman Lee's local office in Dalseong-gun, Daegu, demanding her expulsion from the National Assembly. The Democratic Party also submitted a resolution to the National Assembly seeking her expulsion. Under parliamentary procedure, an expulsion motion undergoes a review by the National Assembly's Special Ethics Committee and consultation with the Ethics Advisory Council before being brought to the plenary session. If two-thirds or more of all members present vote in favor during the plenary session, the expulsion is approved, resulting in the loss of the lawmaker's seat. However, the only actual case of expulsion occurred in 1979 with former President Kim Young Sam.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.