hankyoreh

By Jang Bong-kun

South Korea’s ruling Grand National Party Lawmaker Hwang Young-chul cries, “Empress!” pointing to the First Lady Kim Yoon-ok picture on a huge signboard promoting G-20 Summit.

The signboard, like the G-20 promotional campaign, reads, “The world is watching South Korea,” and President Lee Myung-bak stands with his wife Kim Yoon-ok in traditional royal robes. Next to them dangles a daepo phone, registered under a stolen name, instead of a traditional Korean lantern with a red-and-blue silk shade.

Foreign leaders and business people visiting South Korea for G-20 Summit inquire, asking, “Is South Korea still a monarchy?”

GNP first-term lawmaker Hwang has incurred criticism from opposition parties due to his description of the First Lady as the Empress. In a parliamentary questioning session on Nov. 4, he argued “Our Empress has been seriously hurt” by an opposition lawmaker’s raised suspicions of her bribery, shielded by his immunity.

The main opposition Democratic Party asked him, “If the First Lady is the Empress, what is the status of President Lee?”

(Hankyoreh Geurimpan Nov. 6)