Song Eon-seok, floor leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), strongly criticized President Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday for raising the so-called "hwanppa controversy" during a government ministry briefing, calling it "a highly offensive case that reveals a vulgar perception."
"Presenting a book already classified as a forgery by the academic history community as if it were a direction for state governance, and forcing this upon specialized research institutions like the Northeast Asian History Foundation, fundamentally shakes the nation's historical awareness and intellectual foundation," Song said at the PPP's Supreme Council meeting.
"Politics or power cannot dictate history," he said. "Yet the attempt to brand a specific institution as an incompetent group not fulfilling its role and intimidate it raises significant public suspicion about whether this is an ideological attempt to divide the nation over history."
Song also took issue with President Lee's rebuke of Lee Hak-jae, president of Incheon International Airport Corporation, over foreign currency smuggling during the briefing.
"This is a matter under customs jurisdiction," Song said. "Publicly mocking and humiliating someone without even knowing what to ask whom is entirely unbefitting of presidential dignity."
He added that the briefing "can only be interpreted as silent pressure on public institution heads appointed by the previous administration to stop holding out and leave, rather than a policy review."
Regarding President Lee's comment during the Korea Communications Commission briefing asking whether "administrative measures are possible" against media critical of the administration, Song said it was "tantamount to directly ordering a media gag."
"The ruling party is pushing a 'media muzzle law' that would allow punitive damages up to five times the amount against critical media outlets," Song said. "When the president leads and the ruling party follows in chorus, it looks no different from a husband and wife singing in unison."
"Ministry briefings are solemn occasions for refining the direction of state affairs in the new year," Song said. "President Lee should stop trying to stage 'show communication events' in front of cameras and instead accurately grasp pending issues to responsibly lead state affairs."
He urged the president to "stop putting on shows just to feel like working and genuinely reconsider from the basics what truly serves the nation and its people."
