Jun Ji-hye, a reporter at the finance desk of The Korea Times, focuses primarily on economic policy and government agencies, mainly covering the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the National Tax Service and the Korea Customs Service. She previously covered financial authorities, including the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service, and earlier worked on the political, city and business desks, reporting on a wide range of issues.
Lawmaker in hot seat for improper remarks on Africa
By Jun Ji-hye
Rep. Na Seong-lin
By Jun Ji-hye
A ruling party lawmaker has been slammed by other politicians for a disparaging remark he made about Africa during a party meeting Tuesday.
While criticizing opposition lawmakers for behaving rudely during a National Assembly audit session, Rep. Na Seong-lin of the ruling Saenuri Party compared their behavior to his assumptions about what occurs in African nations.
“Some opposition lawmakers repeatedly made insulting remarks against government officials without giving a chance to answer questions at an audit session. It was like an African country,” Na said.
“It was hard for me to sit together with them because it was so embarrassing.”
Na later apologized for the remarks, but critics say Na’s comment was highly improper as a senior lawmaker of the ruling party _ and was based on his bias against Africa and people there.
Bae Jong-chan, the chief director at political pollster Research and Research, said Na’s remarks exposed his narrow viewpoint about other cultures.
“It can cause negative assessment toward the Korea’s National Assembly in the global society,” he said. “It can cause diplomatic disputes as well.”
Bae noted that the remark was a fatal blunder because the lawmaker specializes in economic issues, and the government has been making efforts to strengthen diplomacy with African nations and break into new markets there including resource development projects.
“Another reason for previous governments as well as the incumbent administration for putting efforts into improving relations with African countries was to take a more favorable position in the diplomatic race with North Korea in the region,” he said. “Na’s remark can negatively affect these efforts too.”
For its part, the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) argued that Na’s remarks also insulted opposition lawmakers.
When reporters asked Rep. Na about who he was referring, he responded: “Everyone knows. Is it okay to say ‘Your face turned red’ to a minister?”
The answer indicated that Na targeted Rep. Park Young-sun of the NPAD.
Park criticized Finance Minister Choi Kyung-hwan during an audit session of the National Assembly Strategy and Finance Committee for submitting poor quality data, saying, “Why have you wasted my time? Your face turned red.”
As the committee’s session began in the afternoon, opposition lawmakers demanded that Na apologize.
Rep. Yun Ho-jung said, “I urge Na to explain how he made such insulting comments by likening Park to an African country.”
Rep. Park also argued: “It was improper to indicate that opposition lawmakers did something wrong in front of reporters who did not understand about the issue, when we were not there,” she said.
As the protest of the opposition side was intensified during the session, Rep. Na eventually made an apology.
“I apologize with a good grace,” he said. “My remarks just came from my sincerity to carry out a more effective audit.”
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye