Opposition: "Diplomatic Embarrassment" vs. Ruling Party: "Servile Submission"... Clash over 'Jin Seongjun Visa Issuance'

Jin Seongjun, chair of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee and a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, received an official visa on October 31 after delays in its issuance, prompting a war of words between the ruling and opposition parties. The People Power Party criticized the episode as a diplomatic embarrassment that damaged trust in the South Korea-U.S. alliance, while the Democratic Party accused its opponents of using the alliance for political gain and called their stance “servile submission to a foreign power.”

Jin Sungjoon, chairman of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee, speaks during a parliamentary audit of the Army Headquarters and other agencies at Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province, on the morning of the 19th. Yonhap News

In a statement, Park Seonghun, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, said, “The chair of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee was asked by the United States, an ally, to submit an English translation of a past ruling under the National Security Act and a criminal-record certificate, among other documents, and was granted entry only after submitting them. This is an unprecedented diplomatic embarrassment and a national disaster.”

He added, “This is a symbolic scene that starkly exposes the cracks in the South Korea-U.S. alliance and the collapse of trust between the two countries,” and demanded an apology from Jin and the Democratic Party.

In response, Lee Juhee, the Democratic Party’s floor spokesperson, said in a written briefing, “Even though the National Assembly’s legitimate legislative activities were restricted, you are attacking a fellow lawmaker from your own country. Do you have no regard for the national interest?”

Lee said, “It is servile submission to a foreign power to criticize even the demand for an explanation of a measure that obstructed the National Assembly’s official activities. Turning security diplomacy involving lawmakers from your own party into a political dispute and ridiculing the National Defense Committee chair’s official activities is an act of self-harm against the national interest that undermines the standing and authority of the National Assembly.”

Earlier that day, Jin announced on social media that he had received an official visa (A-2), saying, “I received my visa from the U.S. Embassy in Seoul today.” He is scheduled to depart for the United States on November 1 to discuss ways to strengthen security cooperation with senior U.S. military officials.

On October 28, Jin had disclosed that the United States had refused to issue his visa. He is said to have subsequently submitted additional documents, including an English translation of a past criminal court ruling, at the request of the U.S. side.

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