On March 28, the People Power Party called on President Lee Jae Myung to unequivocally demand an apology from North Korea for the sinking of the Cheonan warship.
Park Seong-hoon, the party’s chief spokesperson, issued a statement criticizing President Lee’s silence in the face of North Korea’s attack on the Cheonan. He argued that Lee’s flippant remark questioning whether North Korea would apologize merely because they’re asked to disrespects the sacrifice of 46 brave sailors and the grief of their bereaved families.
A media outlet previously reported that during the 11th West Sea Defense Day commemoration on March 27, President Lee responded to families’ requests for a North Korean apology by saying, Do you think they’ll apologize just because we ask?
Park highlighted that when Lee was the Democratic Party leader, he evaded giving a clear answer to former Captain Choi Won-il’s question about North Korea’s culpability. Park noted that even as president, Lee’s stance remains unchanged.
The spokesperson criticized Lee’s hypocrisy, pointing out that while he demands apologies from media outlets critical of him, he can’t properly demand an apology from North Korea, which has caused the deaths of South Korean youth.
Representative Jang Dong-hyuk shared the report on Facebook, challenging President Lee: Will North Korea engage in dialogue just because it ask them to?
Floor leader Song Eon-seok questioned on Facebook whether the president’s words were appropriate for families who have endured immense grief for 16 years.
Song emphasized that the bereaved families sought more than just an apology from the Kim Jong Un regime; they wanted the state to take responsibility for the soldiers who died protecting the country. He argued that Lee’s dismissive response effectively negates the state’s purpose.
Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, suggested that if the president can’t demand an apology for North Korea’s actions that resulted in the deaths of South Korean soldiers, he should consider resigning.