“The Nerve of the ROKS Cheonan Captain,” Kwon Chil-seung Expresses Regret on His Remark, But PPP Plans to Present Case to Parliamentary Ethics Committee

On June 7, Kwon Chil-seung (pictured), senior spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed his regrets on his controversial remark disparaging Choi Won-il, former captain of the ROKS Cheonan. On June 8, the People Power Party (PPP) decided to present the case to the National Assembly Special Committee on Ethics.

In a briefing at the National Assembly, Kwon said, “I used an expression that was inappropriate for the spokesperson of a political party, and I express my deepest regret to everyone who may have been hurt by my words, including the officers and soldiers on the ROKS Cheonan and their bereaved families.” He also said, “I would like to mention that in the parliamentary confirmation hearing, I stated that the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan was the work of North Korea.”

When Lee Rae-kyung, the honorary chairman of The Tomorrow was appointed chair of the Democratic Party’s Innovation Committee, Choi Won-il, the former captain of the ROKS Cheonan, opposed the appointment and demanded Lee be dismissed. Lee once argued that Captain Choi scuttled his own ship. On June 5, Kwon responded and said, “I can’t understand how he (Choi) has the nerve to say something like that,” and added, “After killing all his subordinates, it’s absurd.” Choi protested against Kwon’s remark before Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung in a memorial ceremony at the Seoul National Cemetery the previous day.

When a reporter asked, “Will you continue to act as the spokesperson?” Kwon left without giving an answer.

The latest incident is not likely to end simply with Kwon’s expression of regret. The People Power Party is expected to press the opposition to have Kwon step down. The PPP floor leadership decided to bring Kwon’s case before the parliamentary ethics committee on June 8.

On Wednesday, Kwon met Jeon Jun-yeong, a survivor of the ROKS Cheonan who visited his office in the National Assembly. After the meeting Jeon said, “I described how the surviving officers and soldiers of the ROKS Cheonan have been living, since he didn’t seem to have a deep understanding of it,” and added, “He (Kwon) was very sympathetic and personally apologized to me, too.”

Kwon is scheduled to meet Captain Choi on Thursday and apologize for his controversial remark.