The Ministry of Veterans Affairs has stated that it has no plans to correct or apologize for Minister Kwon Oh-eul's controversial reference to North Korea as the 'People's Republic.' This response has sparked public debate.
According to the Chosun Ilbo on August 12, the Ministry responded to inquiries from Shin Dong-wook, a member of the People Power Party in the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee, stating that there are no plans for correction, clarification, apology, or expression of regret regarding Kwon's remarks.
The controversial statement was made in May during a policy meeting with reporters, where Kwon referenced Ahn Jung-geun's Eastern Peace Theory, saying, "The Republic of Korea, the People's Republic, China, and Japan are all included in that."
The term 'People's Republic' is derived from North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
In a follow-up explanation, the Ministry clarified that Kwon does not typically use this expression as a personal belief. They noted, "Currently, in relation to the excavation of Ahn Jung-geun's remains, the Chinese side is requesting prior consent from North Korea. Kwon mentioned the term once while emphasizing cooperation among North and South Korea, China, and Japan."
When asked whether the term 'People's Republic' aligns with the government's official designation for North Korea, the Ministry responded that North Korea uses the name 'Democratic People's Republic of Korea' when joining the United Nations or signing various agreements with South Korea.
Despite this clarification, criticism continues in the political arena. There is an ongoing debate about the appropriateness of the terminology used by the head of a ministry responsible for veterans affairs when referring to North Korea.
Earlier, President Lee Jae-myung remarked during a report on the Ministry of Unification's second-half work plan on August 5 that when Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young suggested referring to North Korea as 'Democratic People's Republic of Korea' or 'Joseon,' he cautioned, "One expression can embroil us in political strife, so we must be very careful and thoughtful."
Online, reactions to Kwon's remarks and the Ministry's subsequent response have been critical. Some users questioned, "Why create controversy by insisting on calling it the People's Republic?" and others commented, "He is just a principled leftist."
Other users expressed concerns, stating, "According to the constitution, North Korea is not recognized as a state, so isn't this a blatant disregard for the constitution?" and "Recognizing North Korea as the People's Republic aligns with their two-state theory."
Criticism has also been directed at the government's lack of a separate correction or expression of regret. Comments included, "Is it reasonable to use such expressions without any expression of regret?" and "It doesn't seem appropriate for the Minister of Veterans Affairs to use such terminology," along with remarks about ongoing controversies since the change in administration and accusations of infiltration by spies.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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