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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Ruling Party Accuses Opposition Leader of Seeking 'Supreme Dignity' Status Like Kim Jong Un

From Hankyoreh · (4m ago) Korean Critical tone

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A ruling party leader accused the opposition leader of seeking to become a "number two supreme dignity" like North Korea's Kim Jong Un.
  • The accusation stems from the opposition's push for a special prosecutor bill, which the ruling party claims is designed solely for the benefit of the opposition leader.
  • The opposition party criticized the ruling party's use of 'color theory' tactics, calling it an attempt to turn back the hands of time.

The political arena is heating up as the ruling People Power Party (PPP) unleashes a sharp verbal attack on the main opposition leader, Lee Jae-myung. Jang Dong-hyuk, a key figure in the PPP, has drawn a provocative parallel between Lee and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, labeling him as potentially becoming the "number two supreme dignity." This inflammatory rhetoric is directly tied to the opposition's push for a special prosecutor bill, which the PPP vehemently argues is a self-serving maneuver designed to shield Lee from legal repercussions.

There is only one person in the Korean Peninsula who does not go to jail no matter what crime they commit. That is Kim Jong Un, the supreme dignity of North Korea. It seems one more person will be added. Does President Lee Jae-myung want to become 'Supreme Dignity Number 2'?

— Jang Dong-hyukRuling party leader accusing the opposition leader of seeking immunity akin to North Korea's Kim Jong Un.

Jang's accusation, made during a party meeting, frames the special prosecutor bill not as a tool for justice but as a 'violence and crime,' even suggesting it be renamed the 'Lee Jae-myung Supreme Dignity Act.' This 'color theory' approach, invoking the specter of North Korea, is a clear attempt by the PPP to delegitimize the opposition's legislative efforts and rally conservative voters by stoking fears of a pro-communist agenda. The PPP's narrative suggests that Lee is so insulated from legal accountability that he seeks a status akin to Kim Jong Un, who is notoriously above the law.

This is not a law but violence and crime. You might as well create the 'Lee Jae-myung Supreme Dignity Act'.

— Jang Dong-hyukRuling party leader criticizing the opposition's special prosecutor bill.

Predictably, the Democratic Party (DP) has strongly condemned the PPP's tactics. DP leaders have decried the use of 'outdated color theory' as a desperate attempt to regress politically and distract from substantive issues. They argue that the PPP, having failed to secure a strong mandate, is resorting to divisive and fear-mongering tactics rather than engaging in constructive political discourse. The DP views these accusations as a baseless smear campaign aimed at undermining their political standing and obstructing legislative processes they deem necessary.

They are bringing out the old color theory again, trying to turn back the wheels of history.

— Jeong Cheong-raeOpposition party leader criticizing the ruling party's tactics.

This exchange highlights the deep partisan animosity and the often-unconventional political strategies employed in South Korea. The PPP's willingness to use such extreme comparisons underscores the high stakes of the current political climate and their determination to frame the opposition as a threat to the nation's democratic and security interests. The DP, in turn, is fighting back by accusing the ruling party of resorting to McCarthy-esque tactics to avoid accountability for their own actions and policies.

Having resorted to 'Yoon Again' nominations, they have now brought out the stale color theory of 'Kim Jong Un's spokesperson' and 'socialist constitutional amendment'.

— Kim Hyun-jungOpposition party spokesperson criticizing the ruling party's campaign strategy.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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