Conservative students’ group posts leaflets satirizing Moon gov’t

A conservative college students’ group has put up posters satirizing President Moon Jae-in at around 100 universities and the National Assembly building.

The poster, created by the New National Council of Student Representatives (NCSR) is written in the form of a letter of apology, but in fact satirizes the high-handed manner the Moon administration has shown on many controversial issues.

Titled “Letter of Apology,” the poster references President Moon’s recent decision not to take legal action against a 34-year-old man who allegedly “insulted” him by distributing leaflets that called him “a dog of North Korea.”

Announcing the withdrawal of the complaint against the man, presidential spokeswoman Park Kyung-mee said at the time that if similar case took place in future, Cheong Wa Dae would decide whether to take legal action or not after reviewing it each case, apparently issuing a warning.

She then said, “We hope the decision will give an opportunity for the man to learn how the spreading of false information can have a negative influence on the nation’s stature, people’s dignity and the country’s future.”

In the poster, the council said it had distributed leaflets and put up posters critical of the President for the past three years, adding sarcastically that they were writing the letter of apology so as to escape punishment in future according to the President’s warning.

“We, university students, believe the Moon administration has been destroying the lives of people in their 20s and 30s by damaging fairness in this country,” the poster read.

The council cited a series of controversies involving Moon’s aides, including allegations that Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae abused her power to get special favors for her son during his military service in 2017, and former Justice Minister

Cho Kuk committed corruption and admissions fraud for his children in 2019. It also stated that Moon’s economy-related policies, including those on estate and employment, have failed and left young people with little hope of owning a home, getting married and having a job.

“In order to protest such injustice, we took part in candlelit vigils and put up posters. We thought this level of freedom of expression would be tolerated because the people in the administration had the experience of throwing Molotov Cocktails and creating such posters throughout their university days,” said Kim Taeil, head of the NNCSR, referring to

Moon and many of his aides who were “engaged” in pro-democracy activities in the 1980s.

“But it was our huge misunderstanding. All channels of criticisms have been suppressed, whether they are comments, posters, or leaflets,” the poster read.

“So we apologize for telling the truth, having a different opinion from yours, wishing for freedom of speech, and requesting a fair opportunity. We are truly sorry for getting on the President’s nerves.”

Kim held a one-person protest near Cheong Wa Dae, Sunday, and read the message on the poster out loud.