Administrator Yoo Given a Tough Time at the National Assembly

Yoo Hong-jun, the head of the Cultural Heritage Administration and who had visited Pyongyang as a government representative participating in a joint event to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the inter-Korean summit accord, was given a tough time for having sung a theme song of a North Korea’s war movie “Nameless Soldiers” at the National Assembly on June 20. Rep. Kim Young-sook of the Grand National Party criticized Yoo, who was participating in a general meeting held by the “Special Committee on Preventing Distortions in Goguryeo History,” saying, “This incident is related to Yoo’s view on the nation. Also, Yoo sung the ‘General Kim Il Sung song’ and ‘Red Flag Song’ in 1998 when he toured Mt. Geumgang.”

Rep. Ahn Min-seok of the Uri Party who visited the North Korea this time took sides with Yoo, saying, “The representatives successfully fulfilled their mission, and conservative media is finding faults with them.” However, Rep. Kim Jae-gyeong of the Grand National Party pointed out, “Yoo should have been more careful with his words as a high-ranking official.” Yoo apologized repeatedly and said, “I grew to know the song when a North Korean guide said that it was one of the most popular songs in the North Korea. I sang the song in order to emphasize intimacy of our relationship with the North Korean people sitting around the dinner table.” However, he said he had never sung ‘General Kim Il Sung Song’ in 1998 when he toured Mt. Geumgang.

Yeon-Wook Jung jyw11@donga.com