[Herald Economy=Reporter Jang Yeon-ju] Kwon Seong-dong, acting leader of the People Power Party and floor leader, criticized Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 3rd for deceiving the public and the international community with “diplomacy that changes from morning to night.”
At the emergency policy committee meeting held at the National Assembly on this day, Kwon stated, “Trust in diplomacy is formed through consistent principles and responsible actions,” and added, “The attitude of the leader of the main opposition party, who overturns his past remarks and actions and changes his stance based on the situation, only undermines the diplomatic credibility of the country and weakens South Korea’s national interest and status in the international community.”
He further pointed out, “Diplomacy that says ‘Xiexie’ (meaning thank you in Chinese) one day and ‘Arigato’ (meaning thank you in Japanese) the next is merely deception towards the public and international community,” and emphasized, “Even now, a responsible attitude must be shown to build genuine diplomatic trust.”
Kwon commented on an Economist interview with Lee, made public on January 31st, where Lee stated he had “no objection to South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation” and that “Japan’s enhancement of defense capabilities is not a threat to South Korea,” questioning, “Then why was ‘value diplomacy’ established through South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation listed as a reason in the first impeachment proposal against President Yoon Suk-yeol?”
He also criticized, “In 2022, you claimed South Korea-U.S.-Japan joint military exercises were a ‘defense disaster’ and an ‘extremely pro-Japanese act.’ Have you now converted into an ‘extremely pro-Japanese figure?'”
Kwon claimed, “The real culprits who have politically distorted South Korea-Japan relations are the forces of the Democratic Party’s Lee Jae-myung,” adding, “We cannot erase the past instances where anti-Japanese sentiments were used in domestic politics, such as referring to a ‘jukchangga’ (a song).
He continued, “Recent remarks by the representative on ‘pro-American’ and ‘pro-Japanese’ stances are, in essence, Lee Jae-myung of today pointing fingers at Lee Jae-myung of yesterday, akin to self-denial. He previously argued U.S. forces were an ‘occupying army,’ yet, as international and public opinion grew cold, he proposed a ‘resolution supporting the South Korea-U.S. alliance,’ which is inherently the same.”