Prime Minister Lee Criticizes Seniors’ Declaration

Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan refuted Grand National Party lawmaker Kim Byong-ho, who requested to treat the National Security Law issue in accordance with the public sentiment, citing the current declaration of 1,074 seniors from every field who are against the abolishment of the National Security Law, saying, “I saw the list and found that many of seniors were frontiers at the past coup d`état. Their movement against the abolishment will not succeed in obtaining people’s consent owing to their unfavorable record.”

Minister Lee remained steadfast in his belief in the abolition of the National Security Law (NSL), saying, “The NSL is an evil law, and we can hardly find anything similar anywhere else.”

Minister Lee refuted Kim’s account that “some people insist that this country is in the grip of a radical group which is pro-North and anti-American” by mentioning,” This allegation is different from the facts. Such assertions have been repeated for 30 years,” and added,” Only a few radicals might partly exist because a certain circle of students are pro-North and anti-American.”

On the same day, President Roh Moo-hyun said, “The inquiry into the history of the past shouldn’t be postponed, even though it’s tough and difficult, and we still have to correct distorted history to gather our national strength.”

President Roh emphasized, “We can make a tomorrow full of justice and hope only if we make a milestone out of our proud history and catch opportunity to introspect and learn from our bitter past,” in a congratulatory message sent to the inaugural meeting for commemorative association of the Republic of Korea’s provisional government held in the Kim Koo Museum ＆ Library at Hyochang-dong, Yongsan-gu in Seoul.

Jung-Hun Kim Min-Hyuk Park jnghn@donga.com mhpark@donga.com