Democrats fire back at Rep. Kim Min-jeon's 'If you're jealous, go see him' remark: 'Go there yourself'
When People Power Party Rep. Kim Min-jeon told Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Seo Young-kyo, who criticized former President Yoon Suk-yeol's bail of over 2 billion won, "If you're jealous, go see him," the Democrats shot back: "If you want to meet Yoon Suk-yeol, go there yourself." The spat began on the 13th during a National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee audit of the Office for Investigation of Crimes by High-Ranking Officials. At the session, committee chair Seo Young-kyo pointed out, "Is it understandable that former President Yoon earned 2 billion won after just one year in prison?" It was confirmed that the former president received 1.95 billion won in bail money after being re-arrested in July of last year until the 9th of last month.
During the audit, People Power Party Rep. Kim Min-jeon retorted to Democratic Party Rep. Seo Young-kyo, "If you're jealous, go see him." Rep. Kwak Gyu-taek, seated beside her, burst out laughing, saying, "They say go see him if you're jealous." After the audit, Kim wrote on her Facebook page that people "shouldn't mock the sentiments sent by citizens, but fix the collapsing justice system first," and on the 14th she posted a Shorts video containing the remark on Facebook and YouTube.
On the 15th, Rep. Seo Young-kyo pointed out on Facebook that Kim's remark was "senseless and shameless conduct," and demanded that Kim and the People Power Party lawmakers who laughed along and echoed her apologize before the public. Cho Gye-won, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, said at a written briefing on October 14 that "a People Power Party member of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee who heard the remark even laughed," calling it "shameless nonsense." He noted, "Kim even wrote on Facebook, after listening to former President Park Geun-hye's prayer retreat speech, that she earnestly hopes to see President Yoon again soon." Spokesperson Cho added, "Citizens are furious at the People Power Party for showing no remorse, responsibility, or renewal over the insurrection that undermined democracy and threatened the constitutional order," and urged, "People Power Party lawmakers must stop their endless vulgar remarks, nonsense, mockery, and sophistry."
According to figures released by Democratic Party Rep. Lee Seong-yoon, adding the roughly 240 million won in bail money received by former First Lady Kim Keon-hee brings the couple's total bail to about 2.19 billion won. As the facts have come to light, opposition calls for an apology are growing louder, and the ruling and opposition parties remain locked in a dispute over whether an apology is warranted.
