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Staff Reporter
A presidential secretary's alleged remarks calling the participants of anti-U.S. beef import rallies ``a host of Satans'' sparked an outcry from the protestors, Monday.
Choo Bu-ghil, presidential secretary of public relations and planning, was quoted by the Christian media outlet New Power as having told a Presbyterian gathering in Seoul last week to ``pray for the nation so that Satans (allegedly referring to the protesters of the candlelit rallies) do not run rampant on earth again.''
Choo, 52, however, denied the allegation, saying he was not referring to the participants of the rallies.
However, his speech was rapidly spread throughout the Internet.
Bloggers accused Choo of using a ``malicious and insane characterization'' of people participating in the rallies.
The main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) urged Cheong Wa Dae as well as secretary Choo to make a pubic apology for what it called inappropriate remarks that angered the public.
The minor opposition Renewal of Korea Party (ROKP) said in a statement that Choo had shown his misunderstanding of the factors causing people to take part in the rallies.
The party also denounced President Lee Myung-bak for remarks he made at a luncheon meeting with five Buddhist leaders Friday.
During the meeting, Lee said, `` The situation of (the anti-U.S. beef campaigns) gets complicated as several social groups have joined the movement.''
The ROKP said, ``Lee and his secretary attempted to start a witch hunt with their recent comments on the candlelit protests.''
Facing the backlash, Choo expressed regret over his remarks, claiming that his words were taken out of context.
In his controversial speech, Choo said there was a shift of the nature of the candlelit rallies ― from a cultural event to a politically motivated protest.
Citing the Gospel of Matthew, the secretary said ``no parents (governments) would give their children (people) poison if they asked for bread.''
Choo said, ``Misleading claims and fabrication of truth are in full swing in the country. The Lee administration came to be at risk due to the malicious exaggeration of the safety of American beef and the politically motivated protests based on a false belief. We need to think about who's going to benefit from the fabrication.''
A former pastor, Choo joined Lee's team in 1997 as a public relations specialist when Lee, then a lawmaker, sought a second term in the Jongno district, Seoul, in the general elections.
Choo was nicknamed as an evangelist of Lee's signature campaign pledge of the cross-country waterway project mainly due to his proactive role in the promotion of the massive land use project.
He is one of key policy strategists having helped Lee's successful bid in the presidential election.
hkang@koreatimes.co.kr
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