‘Was Danjong impeached for state affairs manipulation?’ lawmaker slams Park Geun-hye ‘restoration’ claim

Rep. Son Sol of the Progressive Party strongly criticized a statement by Rep. Yoo Sang-bum of the People Power Party, who compared former President Park Geun-hye to King Danjong, who was restored to the throne after being deposed. Son called Yoo's remarks "absurd," "baseless," and a "serious historical distortion."

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Danjong was deposed for state affairs manipulation? Does that mean Danjong privatized power and handed the country over to shadowy figures like Choi Soon-sil?

Yoo had stated that Park, like Danjong, would be "restored to her rightful place" from the "shackles of lies and slander." Son questioned this analogy, asking if Yoo meant that Danjong was deposed for "state affairs manipulation" or for "privatizing power and handing the country over to shadowy figures like Choi Soon-sil."

Park was impeached in 2017 and served roughly five years in prison for convictions including state affairs manipulation and receiving state intelligence funds before being pardoned in December 2021. Yoo, however, described Park's potential "restoration" as his "last calling," vowing retribution against those he accused of "public humiliation" and "character assassination."

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It is tear-jerking, no, pathetic, to see a lawmaker sworn to uphold the constitution acting as a bodyguard for those involved in state affairs manipulation, blindly pledging loyalty.

Son retorted that Yoo, as a lawmaker sworn to uphold the constitution, was acting as a "bodyguard" for those involved in state affairs manipulation. She urged him to cease the "melodrama" and "absurd historical distortion" and apologize to the public. Son firmly stated that Park, as a convicted criminal of state affairs manipulation, could "never be restored to honor."

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Park Geun-hye, as a criminal of state affairs manipulation, can never be restored to honor.

Meanwhile, other People Power Party members offered a different perspective. Rep. Choo Kyung-ho noted that many in Daegu and across the country feel Park was treated unfairly. Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member, added that there is significant public opinion supporting the restoration of Park's honor, pointing to the enthusiastic reception she receives at campaign events as evidence of a foundation for such restoration.

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In Daegu and among many citizens, there is a widespread feeling that the president was treated very unfairly.