‘Baejae High School disciplinary action is like North Korea’… Presidential Office warns ‘Prime Minister-level’ Lee Byung-tae

Lee Byung-tae, the deputy chairman of the Presidential Committee on Regulatory Reform, has been issued a strong warning by the presidential office for his public comments criticizing the disciplinary action taken against the Baejae High School baseball team. The team faced sanctions for singing a song perceived as mocking the May 18th Gwangju Democratization Movement.

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This is misleading and particularly inappropriate behavior for someone in a responsible position within a government-affiliated organization.

Presidential Senior Secretary for Public Relations Kang Yoo-jung stated that Lee's remarks, posted on social media, were "misleading" and inappropriate, particularly given his "responsible position within a government-affiliated organization." Kang emphasized that Lee's comments ran counter to the government's firm stance against "hate and mockery."

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5.18 has become a sacred cow.

Lee, who holds a position equivalent to a prime minister, had written on Facebook that the Gwangju movement had become a "sacred cow" and likened the disciplinary actions to practices in "North Korea." He argued that freedom of expression is a universal human right, even suggesting that shouting "Long live Kim Il-sung" in the middle of Seoul should be permitted to protect fundamental rights.

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This is the appearance of North Korea.

Despite the controversy, Lee maintained his stance, asserting that protecting basic rights is essential for a true democracy. He reiterated his belief that the punishment of the students, rather than their chant, constituted a mockery and defamation of the Gwangju Democratization Movement. The presidential office's warning underscores the sensitivity surrounding historical events and the government's efforts to maintain a consistent public message.

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My opinion's core is 'freedom of expression'. This is one of the universal basic rights of human beings.