Ruling party lawmaker faces backlash for supporting ‚anti-communist‘ youth group

Members of a civic group calling itself „anti-communist youth group“ maintain a press convention on the Nationwide Meeting in Seoul, Thursday, organized by Rep. Kim Min-jeon of the ruling Individuals Energy Occasion. Captured from JTBC information

Rep. Kim Min-jeon of the ruling Individuals Energy Occasion (PPP) is dealing with criticism for supporting a controversial civic group calling itself the „anti-communist youth group,“ which pledges to cease investigators from detaining President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Opposition lawmakers mentioned Friday that they’re contemplating submitting a movement to expel the conservative lawmaker. The PPP management referred to as Kim’s actions „inappropriate“ however weren’t extreme sufficient to subject a proper penalty.

Kim held a press convention on the Nationwide Meeting on Thursday alongside the „anti-communist youth group,“ a civic group made up of members of their 20s and 30s.

Although not formally launched, the group has been staging protests close to Yoon’s residence to guard him from being detained as investigators put together to execute a warrant associated to his botched martial legislation imposition on Dec. 3.

Kim Jeong-hyeon, the group’s chief, expressed considerations over the continuing impeachment proceedings towards Yoon, warning that such actions may threaten the nation’s constitutional order and deepen nationwide divisions.

„We subject a stern warning towards the unreasonable makes an attempt to arrest the president,“ he mentioned.

He added that the group has a sub-unit referred to as „Baekgoldan,“ which might perform as a „vigilante group“ providing surveillance and safety for the embattled president.

The press convention instantly sparked controversy, as Baekgoldan, actually translating to „White Cranium Squad,“ refers to a infamous fight police unit notorious for suppressing pro-democracy activists through the Eighties and the ’90s.

These law enforcement officials had been recognized for sporting white helmets and jean jackets to mix in among the many demonstrators. Equally, members of the „anti-communist youth group“ wore white helmets throughout Thursday’s press convention and at earlier rallies close to Yoon’s residence.

Rep. Kim Min-jeon of the ruling Individuals Energy Occasion attends a celebration assembly on the Nationwide Meeting in Seoul, Dec. 14. Yonhap

The principle opposition Democratic Occasion of Korea (DPK) accused Rep. Kim of making an attempt to deliver again „gangsters“ into the political enviornment, whereas the minor Reform Occasion additionally criticized her for stirring political instability.

Kim issued an apology on Thursday night, stating that she would retract the press convention.

„I apologize for not correctly understanding wider views of President Yoon’s younger supporters and for failing to assemble correct details about the contributors earlier than arranging the press convention,“ she wrote on Fb.

Nonetheless, her apology didn’t quell the backlash.

„We’re contemplating introducing a movement to expel Kim for bringing people related to Baekgoldan again into the Nationwide Meeting and trying to repeat the tragic historical past,“ Rep. Kim Yong-min of the DPK mentioned in an interview with CBS on Friday.

PPP flooring chief Rep. Kweon Seong-dong mentioned, „I believe it was inappropriate for her to rearrange a press convention when the identify or the function of the group remained unclear.“

However Kweon added that since Kim acknowledged her mistake and apologized, her actions don’t represent grounds for formal disciplinary motion.