DP defends lawmaker accused of Japan-baiting the PPP

Politics

Published: 03 Jul. 2024, 18:59 Updated: 03 Jul. 2024, 19:02

DP defends lawmaker accused of Japan-baiting the PPP

Democratic Party Rep. Kim Byung-joo calls Rep. Sung Il-jong of the People Power Party (PPP) to demand a plenary session be held on Wednesday. Park's derogatory comment calling the PPP "out of their minds" led to the adjournment of the session the previous day. [YONHAP]

The liberal Democratic Party (DP) leadership rallied behind one of its lawmakers following his allegedly derogatory comment toward the conservative People Power Party (PPP) on issues regarding Japan.

DP Rep. Kim Byung-joo said the PPP was "out of their minds" at an interpellation session Tuesday for using terminology that suggested South Korea and Japan were "allies." The DP used the PPP's language as a catalyst to drive the liberal party's anti-Japan narrative and challenge the Yoon Suk Yeol administration and the ruling party.

PPP threatens filibuster if DP tries to pass special probe bill

"While the South Korea-U.S. alliance exists, there is no South Korea-Japan alliance or trilateral alliance including Japan," said DP floor leader Rep. Park Chan-dae at a Supreme Council meeting on Wednesday. "We cannot form an alliance with Japan, which constantly claims sovereignty over Dokdo."

The East Sea islets of Dokdo have long been a recurring source of tension between South Korea and Japan, with Tokyo repeatedly asserting its sovereignty claims. Meanwhile, the Yoon administration has actively sought to improve bilateral relations with Japan.

"Are you suggesting we just hand over Dokdo to Japan?" he rhetorically asked.

At a general assembly of lawmakers later in the day, Park echoed, "Where in the world do conservatives claim an alliance with a country that invades their own nation?"

Other DP leaders chimed in.

"Have you forgotten the 36 years of humiliation under Japanese rule? Rep. Kim made a sharp point," Supreme Council member Rep. Jung Chung-rae said.

"The PPP's true intention is to avoid passing the special probe bill concerning the death of the young Marine Corporal," argued another Supreme Council member, Rep. Ko Min-jung.

The DP on the previous day planned to propose a controversial bill mandating a special counsel probe into allegations that the Defense Ministry meddled in an official investigation into a Marine's death last year, but the session was disrupted due to Rep. Kim's remarks.

Political analysts suggest the DP's continued anti-Japan stance aims to consolidate their support base, even at the cost of delaying the passing of the special probe bill.

"Amid concerns of backlash related to former DP leader Lee Jae-myung, the DP seems to be expanding its focus to diffuse attention," one DP official said. "They are likely targeting issues with high negative public opinion toward Japan, similar to last year's criticism of the release of Fukushima's contaminated water."

Similarly, the opposition party strongly criticized the Yoon administration's lackluster response to the Naver-Line Yahoo case, referring to it as a "diplomatic failure."

The DP has used anti-Japan sentiment to boost its approval ratings before.

In July 2019, then-President Moon Jae-in's approval rating dropped to around 40 percent due to decisions on minimum wage increases and Japan's restrictions on semiconductor material exports.

In response, Moon vowed that Korea "will never be defeated again by Japan" in a Cabinet Meeting on Aug. 2, 2019, emphasizing independence in semiconductor materials, components and equipment. He then paid a series of visits to semiconductor sites.

This sparked a nationwide boycott of Japanese products, subsequently raising his approval rating to 50.4 percent the following week.

BY KIM JEONG-JAE [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]