Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.
Opposition parties demand Yoon apologize after lawmaker dragged out of presidential event
Rep. Kang Sung-hee of the minor opposition Jinbo Party is being dragged out of a hall in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, during a ceremony attended by President Yoon Suk Yeol, Thursday. Yonhap
By Lee Hyo-jin
Opposition parties are demanding an official apology from President Yoon Suk Yeol after a member of the minor opposition Jinbo Party was forcibly ejected from an event by the Presidential Security Service (PSS), which the liberal bloc characterized as "suppression against lawmakers."
During a party meeting on Sunday, members of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) scrutinized the actions of presidential bodyguards who forcefully removed Rep. Kang Sung-hee of the progressive Jinbo Party from an event in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, on Thursday.
"It appears that the PSS was trying to protect the president's mood, not physically guard him," said Rep. Park Ju-min, the DPK's deputy floor leader.
Following the incident, Rep. Kang claimed that he was forcibly dragged out just for asking Yoon to "change the direction of state affairs" without posing any physical danger to the president.
However, Yoon's office gave a different explanation, stating that the lawmaker did not let go of the president after shaking hands and pulled the president toward him, prompting the president's security to escort him out of the hall.
During Sunday's meeting, DPK lawmakers played a 30-second video of the incident which the presidential office distributed to the press.
"The president had already moved past Rep. Kang after shaking hands, and that's when the PSS agents began covering Rep. Kang's mouth and grabbing his arms and legs," Park said.
According to DPK lawmaker Rep. Yun Jun-byeong, who was also present at the event on Thursday, Rep. Kang told the president to adjust the direction of state affairs in a quiet tone as they shook hands. However, the lawmaker raised his voice as Yoon moved away.
Describing the commotion as "violence and suppression against lawmakers," the DPK members demanded the head of the PSS step down and urged Yoon to issue an official apology.
Along with three minor opposition parties — Jinbo Party, Justice Party and the Basic Income Party — the DPK plans to release a resolution denouncing the presidential office later this week. The DPK is reportedly reviewing the possibility of opening a National Assembly Steering Committee meeting to demand a further explanation from the presidential office.