By Kim Hyo-jin
Opposition leaders struck back at President Park Geun-hye, Tuesday, for her criticism of six opposition lawmakers of the Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK) who are visiting China amid tensions between the two countries over South Korea’s decision to deploy a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery here.
They said that Park incited internal division and exacerbated political wrangling over the THAAD issue by labeling the lawmakers of the main opposition party as North Korea and China sympathizers.
However, later in the day, despite the denunciation from the opposition, Park continued to lash out at THAAD protests for the second straight day, saying differences on views regarding a security issue will only exacerbate national division and put people’s lives at risk.
In her meeting with senior secretaries, Monday, the head of state berated the opposition lawmakers, who flew to Beijing earlier that day for talks with Chinese scholars and officials on the planned THAAD deployment, saying they were sympathizing with the opinions of China as well as North Korea.
MPK floor leader Rep. Woo Sang-ho demanded an apology, saying it showed her belligerent stance against the opposition.
“It’s impossible to understand why the President painted the opposition lawmakers who have different views to hers as North Korea followers or traitors,” he said during a party meeting. “Opposition lawmakers do not have to play a role of being an envoy of the President. We ask the President for an apology.”
Rep. Park Jie-won, the floor leader of the minor opposition People’s Party, agreed with Woo’s argument, saying the president was seeking to redirect public discontent over the planned installation of the anti-missile system by making it an ideological, nationalistic issue.
“Park stepped up criticizing China without persuading people in Seongju or the South Korean public while making the issue sound like a matter of either being a nationalist or traitor, someone seeking national security or North Korea follower,” he said.
They plan to return home today after meeting Chinese scholars, South Korean press correspondents and South Korean residents there to exchange views on the THAAD issue.
Cheong Wa Dae has expressed concerns about their trip saying it could bolster China’s opposition to the THAAD unit and widen internal division inside the country.
While attending a national convention of the ruling Saenuri Party, Park continued to lash out at THAAD opponents.
“The deployment of a THAAD battery is a minimum defensive measure that will protect us from threats posed by North Korea’s nuclear program and missiles,” she said during her congratulatory address.
“If you raise criticism and encourage conflict over the planned deployment without presenting any alternative measure, it means that you are driving the nation and the people into a crisis.”