Democratic Party deepening civil discord… weekly photo shoot

March 1st week of daily affairs

▷ After “rejection like approval”, Moon Jae-in was included in the search for dog daughter watermelon

The motion for the arrest of Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myeong was rejected at the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 27th (out of 297 present, 139 in favor, 138 against, 11 invalid, 9 abstaining). There were more votes in favor than against, but it was rejected because it did not exceed the majority of the members present. In the power of the people, it was interpreted as “actually, politically.” During the vote, an extremely unusual situation occurred that took 84 minutes just to count the votes due to the controversy over invalid votes. This is because in the process of counting votes, one piece of ballot paper with a letter written on it that was read as ‘woo’, ‘mu’, or ‘bu’ and one ballot paper with letters that were difficult to recognize were found, and the opposition parties fought over it. . Although it was narrowly rejected, the Democratic Party, which was confident of a single line of 169 seats, was embarrassed by the vote result with at least 31 people leaving, and Lee’s leadership suffered a significant blow.

The ‘dog daughters’ (daughters of reform) also started ‘finding the culprit’ in the party right after the vote. They also started texting terrorism targeting non-governmental lawmakers. In response to a text message sent by them, saying, “The watermelon (a slang meaning the Democratic Party on the outside, the power of the people on the inside) has been certified properly,” a member of the lawmaker Bimyeong-gye replied, “I cast a veto,” and so on until the night of the search. this followed. Dogs’ daughters turned their arrows to former CEO Lee Nak-yeon, who competed with Lee in the last presidential election. He said, “I went to the United States without even apologizing to CEO Lee after I exploded the Daejang-dong case for the first time,” and argued, “It is not unreasonable to say that former CEO Lee plotted to cause a vote of rebellion in the party in the vote on the arrest yesterday.” On the afternoon of the 3rd, they took a collective action to ‘break the watermelon’ in front of the Democratic Party’s office in Yeouido, Seoul.

As the party’s internal conflict deepens, CEO Lee appeared in court on the 3rd as a defendant in a violation of the Public Official Election Act. Representative Lee is scheduled for trial three times this month alone, on the 3rd, 17th, and 31st. Regarding the suspicion of preferential treatment for the Daejang-dong development project in 2021, when he was a candidate for the Democratic Party’s presidential election, “I don’t know the late Kim Moon-ki, former head of the development department of Seongnam Urban Development Corporation.” In September of last year, he was indicted without detention on charges of publishing false information under the Public Official Election Act for remarks such as “The 4th stage change of use in Baekhyun-dong was due to the request and intimidation of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport” in relation to the remarks and the suspicion of preferential treatment for the Baekhyeon-dong development project.

▷ Verification of flawed personnel, Controversy over school violence brought by Nakma, head of the National Investigation Headquarters Jeong Soon-shin

On the 25th, President Yoon Seok-yeol canceled the appointment of attorney Jeong Sun-shin (57), who had been appointed as the second head of the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency, after controversy erupted over his son’s school violence. This case continued as a major issue last week as it was divided into two subjects, ‘Validation of personnel with holes’ and ‘Academic violence’.

First of all, criticism was poured out on related ministries such as the police, the Ministry of Justice, and the President’s Office, which failed in personnel verification.

The Human Resources Information Management Team of the Ministry of Justice, which conducted the first verification, asked 169 questions to candidates. It is said that Attorney Jung submitted it by writing ‘No’. A key official in the presidential office said, “Attorney Jeong did not give accurate information, so there were limits to verification,” but the content had already been reported on a broadcast in 2018. The Democratic Party of Korea is launching an offensive on this day, saying, “We will review the formation of a fact-finding team to investigate Jeong Soon-shin’s school violence and personnel verification.” Representative Lee Jae-myeong said at the Supreme Council meeting, “The personnel verification function of the Yoon Seok-yeol regime is completely inoperable.” It is only in a hurry to avoid responsibility,” he criticized.

It was found that the son of Attorney Chung, who was transferred, entered Seoul National University in 2020 with a regular admission system that reflects 100% of the college scholastic ability test scores. In online communities where students of Seoul National University gathered, voices are emerging saying, “You cannot go to the same school as the perpetrator of school violence,” and “Mr. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Lee Joo-ho announced on the 2nd that he is reviewing a plan to reflect ‘school violence (school violence) disposition record’ in the recruitment of college admissions on the 2nd.

Due to this falling horse incident, Police Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun is on the chopping block again. Inside the police, there is a saying that ‘should resign’ after Attorney Soon-shin Jeong, recommended by Commissioner Yoon, fell from the position of head of the National Investigation Headquarters despite a backlash that ‘it neutralizes the purpose of adjusting the prosecution’s investigative powers’. Since the inauguration of Commissioner Yoon in August of last year, controversy has continued, such as the establishment of a police department in the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, the Itaewon Halloween disaster, and the suspicion of retaliatory personnel appointments at the end of the year.

▷ Descendants of Kim Gu and Rhee Seung-man, who showed harmony in the torn 3.1 section this year as well

A reporter who has been working as a photojournalist for 20 years can say that ‘the busiest week of the year?’ is the week with the 3.1 verse and the 8.15 Liberation Day. It is a busy week where schedules for various commemorative ceremonies of the president, city and county groups are overflowing, liberal conservative rallies are subject to coverage checks as annual events, and even sporadic press conferences and rallies that are held in line with issues of Korea-Japan relations that year are a busy week.

This year’s 3.1st week has been the busiest in recent years. Section 3.1 events that could not be held due to Corona 19 were poured out, and after the presidential memorial address, there was even a press conference criticizing opposition parties and civic groups. There was also a commotion in which the Japanese flag was raised in Korea.

It was a hectic week, this year as well, it was the 3.1 week that was divided into left and right sides, but there was also a scene that showed harmony. This is an excerpt from an article published exclusively in the Dong-A Ilbo on March 2nd.

“We had one mind for independence.” (Mrs. Cho Hye-ja, daughter-in-law of former President Syngman Rhee)

“Isn’t the March 1st Movement a work in which the whole nation united in one voice?”

On the 1st of the 104th anniversary of March 1, Tapgol Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul. At the place where thousands of people gathered 104 years ago, waving national flags and shouting ‘Long live the independence of Joseon’, first lady Jo Hye-ja (81) and former acting acting official Kim Jin (74) held hands without saying who was first. It is the first time the two have met. The descendants of former President Syngman Rhee and Kim Gu, political rivals who devoted themselves to the independence movement during the Japanese colonial period but were divided over differences of opinion after liberation, showed reconciliation and unity in front of the cause of inheriting the spirit of the independence movement.

Jongno-gu, Seoul, held the ‘104th anniversary of the March First Independence Movement Commemoration Ceremony and the Promoter Conference of the Pan-National Promotion Committee for Sanctuary of Tapgol Park’ at Tapgol Park. Mrs. Cho and former Acting President Kim attended the event as ‘special guests’ at the invitation of Lee Jong-chan, former head of the National Intelligence Service, who served as the promoter of the Pan-National Promotion Committee.

Dressed in an ivory hanbok, Ms. Cho greeted them, saying, “My father-in-law and Mr. Kim Gu both had the same heart for independence.” Kim, the former acting secretary in a black coat, responded by saying, “Considering the spirit of the independence movement, I thought it was natural for me to come here as a descendant.” The two sat right next to each other in the front row and watched the event while having a conversation throughout the event.

Ms. Cho recalled the relationship between her father-in-law and Mr. Kim Gu during his lifetime, and remembered, “Sir Kim Gu called my father ‘brother’ and followed him well.” Kim, who was born after Kim Gu died in 1949, said, “I have not been able to see my grandfather in person,” but “I learned from the adults in my family that my grandfather and former President Syngman Rhee took different routes after liberation, but dedicated themselves under the single goal of independence before liberation.” said.

The two did not forget to ask the politicians and the people. Ms. Cho said, “I hope that we can recall the spirit of the independence movement, which united regardless of religion or ideology.” Former acting acting chief Kim also said, “If you collide too violently, you may lose a bigger path and goal.” Written by Choi Mi-song Reporter Kim Tae-woo Channel A Reporter

Reporter Jang Seung-yoon tomato99@donga.com