Politician pushes patriotism pledge law
By Lee Ji-hye
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Rep. Lee No-geun
A ruling party politician wants a law to force citizens to pledge allegiance to the nation.
Rep. Lee No-geun, of Nowon-A constituency in Seoul, is to introduce the draft bill, titled the "Three patriotic laws," at the Committee of Land and Transportation on May 7 at the National Assembly.
The threefold bill stipulates Mugunghwa as the national flower, Aeguka as the national anthem, and enforces all citizens to pledge allegiance at public events.
"I wish to develop a stronger sense of patriotism through the patriotic bills by legally enforcing it for the first time," Lee said, adding that "the stipulation is necessary for the nation's current situation, where citizens need to establish a national identity."
Lee's proposal specifies public events as official ceremonies affiliated with government branches, local offices, public organizations and political parties.
"There are many people that have refused to sing the national anthem, or pledge allegiance to our national flag during official ceremonies," Lee said.
"This is why we need legal measures to enforce it ㅡ to make sure this is not skipped at official ceremonies just because it is simply considered a custom, not inked in law."
Some lawmakers of the recently disbanded Unified Progressive Party (UPP), such as former chairwoman Lee Jung-hee, faced controversy for refusing to sing the South Korean national anthem.
Lee also included in his draft a proposal setting August 8 as National Flower Day, and to regulate "altered versions" of the national anthem.
In response to the announcement of the proposal, netizens were quoted as saying that the approach was based on outdated ideologies and overprotective enforcement.