Main opposition party trying to appease angry residents in Gwangju, Jeolla

Main opposition People Power Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok speaks during a meeting with party members at its regional branch in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province, Thursday. Yonhap

PPP presidential contender expresses 'regret' over remarks praising ex-dictator

By Jung Da-min

The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has been baffled by remarks by its leading presidential contender, Yoon Seok-youl, which seemed to defend former dictator Chun Doo-hwan and angered residents of Gwangju and the Jeolla region who suffered from his brutal suppression of pro-democracy protests.

Out of concern that the comments may diminish support for the party from residents in the region and prompt more centrist voters to turn their back on the party, the PPP's chief rushed to the region to appease residents, while Yoon “reluctantly” expressed regret over his remarks, but did not apologize.

PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok visited Yeosu and Suncheon in South Jeolla Province, Thursday, and met party members and residents there. The visit was hurriedly arranged the previous day after Yoon's remarks caused a stir.

Yoon said Tuesday that the former president was “good at politics aside from the military coup and suppression of the May 18 Gwangju uprising,” and, “quite a lot of people in the Honam region (meaning Gwangju and South and North Jeolla provinces) also say so.” Yoon was trying to say that Chun appointed capable people in each sector to ensure smooth state affairs and he would also do so if elected as president, the party later clarified.

Chun, who led a military coup in December 1979 to take over the country, ordered the brutal suppression of pro-democracy protesters in Gwangju, and many people in the region are still deeply scarred by the incident.

During his visit, Lee said he did not agree with Yoon's remarks whatever his intention was, saying “Chun was never engaged in politics; he only ruled over people.”

He said a portrait of Chun is the only one missing among paintings of former presidents of the country that are kept in the party chairman's office, which means the group does not commemorate his rule.

“Yoon's remarks have weakened his own competitiveness and people's expectations of him,” Lee said. “As the party leader, when setting up the principles and philosophy of the party, I'll ensure opinion that is different from historical fact will not be reflected in the principles.”

The previous day, Lee also said Yoon's remarks were definitely improper and advised the candidate to apologize to the people who were hurt by the comments.

As criticism mounted, Yoon said, Thursday, “I humbly accept many people's criticism that my remarks were improper. I express regret.”

But he did not issue an apology and only added that he would try harder to understand public opinion. He said he would visit Gwangju and the Jeolla provinces later to meet people there.