hankyoreh

President Lee Myung-bak said that the government has to carefully listen to those who are critical of state policies, but will deal strictly with demonstrations that “challenge the identity of the state” and rallies deemed “illegal and violent.” His remarks were made on June 24 during a Cabinet meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae, or the Blue House. “It is fortunate that there have been no casualties throughout the candlelight rallies even if the riot police have had a lot of problems,” Lee added.

The president’s remarks are expected to spark a controversy because he has changed his position just five days after he apologized to the nation for his handling of the U.S. beef negotiations and his appointment of controversial staff members. In the apology, made at a special press conference on June 19, he used the words “reflection from the bottom of my heart” to describe his remorse.

In early May, Lee attempted to overcome the situation by defining those who were attacking the problem of mad cow disease as people opposed to the South Korea-U.S. free trade agreement. As a growing number of citizens have taken part in candlelight protests against the beef deal and the public has felt a growing sense of alienation from the government, he has made a repeated number of public apologies. The remarks made at the Cabinet meeting on June 24, however, have brought his position into sharp focus and signal that he will define the candlelight rallies as demonstrations “challenging the identity of the state,” and as “illegal, violent protests,” and will enact firm measures by mobilizing the authorities.

Meanwhile, Internet activists have been putting pressure on companies advertising in the country’s three largest newspapers, the Chosun Ilbo, the JoongAng Ilbo and the DongA Ilbo. Regarding this, Justice Minister Kim Kyung-han said that the government will step up its investigation into what it termed “a harmful atmosphere.” At a briefing, Eo Cheong-soo, the chief of the National Police Agency, announced that arrest warrants would be issued for 12 people accused of leading the candlelight protests, in what appears to be a move to punish participants active in the candlelight rallies and those with records of having committed acts of violence during the protests. Police also plan to arrest people who block the streets for extended periods of time during the protests. Eo said that “some forces” are turning the candlelight protests into an anti-government struggle.

In response, civic organizations and opposition parties have started to criticize the government’s actions. A statement issued by the People’s Countermeasure Council against Full Resumption of Imports of U.S. Beef Endangered with Mad Cow Disease, a civic organization that has been involved in organizing many of the protest rallies, said, “Even though the president apologized to the people twice, he was just being hypocritical. If the government doesn’t accept the people’s demands for renegotiation of the beef agreement, the candlelight rallies will grow more intense, rather than dying down.”

Cha Young, a spokeswoman for the main opposition United Democratic Party, also criticized the president, saying that his remarks amounted to a “crude ideological offensive to quell the candlelight rallies by separating people into groups. Lee’s intent to punish people while saying that he is engaging in heartfelt reflection is contradictory.”

The minor opposition New Progressive Party also issued a statement, which said that the triangular alliance between the ruling Grand National Party, the country’s three largest conservative newspapers and the prosecution has exposed the government’s intentions. The NPP urged the government to stop hunting netizens and people participating in the candlelight protests.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]