SEOUL: The Democratic Party (DP), South Korea's main opposition party, has called for an apology from President Yoon Suk Yeol following an incident where Presidential Security Service (PSS) agents forcefully removed an opposition lawmaker from a public event. The event in question took place last week in the southwestern city of Jeonju.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Rep. Kang Sung-hee of the minor progressive Jinbo Party was forcibly removed from the event by PSS agents. The presidential office had earlier described Kang as being disruptive, alleging that he was shouting and had grabbed the president's hand. Kang, however, countered this narrative, stating that he was merely asking President Yoon to "change the principle of state affairs." A presidential official offered a different version of events, claiming that Kang held onto the president's hand despite warnings from security agents to release it.
During a press conference on Sunday, DP's chief deputy floor leader Rep. Park Ju-min denounced the PSS agents' actions as excessive and demanded an apology from President Yoon. Park presented a video of the incident to reporters, arguing that the security service's actions seemed more focused on protecting the president's mood rather than his safety. He suggested that the incident warranted either the dismissal of the chief of the PSS or an apology from President Yoon.
In response to the controversy, the DP, along with other minor opposition parties including Kang's Jinbo Party, plans to propose a parliamentary resolution condemning the presidential office. This resolution is aimed for adoption at a plenary parliamentary meeting scheduled for Thursday. Additionally, the DP intends to submit a request for a parliamentary steering committee meeting to be convened, with the goal of summoning officials from the presidential office for questioning regarding the incident.
The incident has sparked significant debate and controversy, highlighting tensions between the ruling and opposition parties, and raising questions about the conduct of presidential security in politically sensitive situations.