On the 20th, Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized President Yoon Suk-yeol for his comments during the National Security Council the day before, where he mentioned, “Anti-national forces are conspiring in various places.” Park questioned why the President, who represents the entire Republic of Korea, would make divisive remarks that fuel national division.
During the party’s strategy meeting at the National Assembly on the same day, Park stated, “President Yoon has repeatedly engaged in the behavior of casting curses without any basis or substance, such as ‘communist forces’ and ‘anti-national forces,’ whenever he feels cornered” and questioned whether Yoon is evoking color-based arguments to evade criticism for his pro-Japanese collaboration. Park further pointed out, “Who are the real anti-national forces threatening liberal democracy? Isn’t it those who forget that sovereignty lies with the people, fight against the people, blatantly ignore the legislative branch of the National Assembly, deny the principle of separation of powers, and even seek to control public broadcasting in addition to resorting to the threat of ‘hatchet terrorism’?”
He emphasized, “While everyone else seems to be aware of this fact, President Yoon appears to be the only one unaware,” and criticized the President for irresponsibly blaming others instead of unifying the people. Park added, “Using such agitational tactics, the incompetence of the government is not hidden, and no one is fooled. I advise you to research policies to save the people’s livelihoods rather than standing on the brink.”
President Yoon, at the National Security Council meeting on the morning of the 19th at the Blue House, mentioned, “Anti-national forces threatening the liberal democracy system are conspiring in various parts of our society. North Korea has been mobilizing them since the early days of its founding to aggravate national confusion through violence, public opinion manipulation, propaganda, and incitement to divide public opinion.” He further stated, “Efforts must actively be made to block such confusion and division and promote measures that can increase the united resistance of the entire nation.”