Lee Byung-tae, vice chairman of the Regulatory Rationalization Committee [Newsis]
Lee Byung-tae, vice chairman of the Regulatory Rationalization Committee [Newsis]

Fallout continues over remarks by Lee Byung-tae, vice chairman of the Regulatory Rationalization Committee, who said the May 18 pro-democracy uprising "has become a sacred cow." Some Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers renewed calls for an apology Sunday.

Democratic Party lawmaker Seo Yeong-seok wrote on social media that "hatred and mockery directed at the May 18 pro-democracy movement cannot be justified in the name of freedom of expression," adding that "apologizing, even now, for denigrating the history of democracy is the right attitude for someone holding public office."

Lawmaker Kim Nam-kuk also posted on Facebook, urging Lee to "immediately apologize before the public for this mistaken view and reckless statement." Kim said "the freedom of expression cannot be stretched to cover the mockery of a tragedy in which the state turned its guns on its own people, or of the history in which citizens defended democracy with their lives."

Lawmaker Choi Min-hee linked her remarks to Cheong Wa Dae's public warning Saturday over Lee's "inappropriate conduct," saying someone who claims not to know what he should apologize for "does not belong in the Lee Jae Myung government" and calling on him to "resign immediately." Choi had also criticized Lee the previous day, asking, "How is denigrating and mocking May 18 any form of freedom of expression?"

Park Byeong-eon, senior spokesperson of the Rebuilding Korea Party, said in a statement that the May 18 pro-democracy movement "is the historical backdrop of today's Korean society, to the extent that there is national consensus on enshrining it in the preamble of the Constitution." He said a person who "directly raised ideological suspicions by calling it 'like North Korea'" must not be tolerated in the name of unity.

Park added that "Vice Chairman Lee's remarks have crossed the line of what our society can tolerate for the sake of cohesive governance," and called for his resignation.

The controversy began after Lee posted on social media criticizing the situation surrounding Baejae High School, whose students had chanted "Let's go to Starbucks" during a game against Gwangju Jeil High School — a chant that drew discussion of disciplinary action. Lee wrote that "May 18 has become a sacred cow" and called the situation "reminiscent of North Korea." Cheong Wa Dae issued a public warning Saturday, calling his behavior "inappropriate conduct for someone in a position of responsibility at a government-affiliated agency."

Lee, who holds conservative views, was appointed vice chairman of the Regulatory Rationalization Committee — a prime minister-level post — in March.


20ki@heraldcorp.com