- University Students Condemn the NIS for Interfering with Elections
- By Lee Seo-hwa, Nam Ji-won, Kim Han-sol
Posted on : 2013-06-21 17:05
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Universities and the civil society is taking action denouncing the National Intelligence Service's illegal interference with elections as a threat to democracy. The university student councils have released statements condemning the incident and are planning a candlelight vigil at the heart of Seoul. This may even spread to a massive public movement like the 2008 candlelight vigil against U.S. beef.
On the morning of June 20, the Seoul National University (SNU) student council held a press conference outside the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong, Seoul and said, "At the center of this incident lies the fact that government authorities interfered with an election, through which the people exercise their sovereignty, and undermined the democratic process.
NIS officials who abused their authority and intervened in the presidential election and the police who deceived the public through a limited investigation and false reports must be punished." More than 70 students from Seoul National University were present at the press conference.
Kim Hyeong-rae (24), president of the SNU student council said, "The actions of the intelligence agency broke a social consensus on democracy and shattered the belief people held that an election is a fair process. Former director Won Sei-hoon actually injured the authority of the president." The SNU student council decided to announce a statement denouncing the NIS incident sometime next month.
The student council of Ewha Womans University also claimed that, "Democracy, which blossomed with the June demonstrations in 1987, is facing a great crisis with the intervention in elections by government authorities. Those responsible for interfering with the elections and blocking the investigation should be punished and the National Assembly should immediately accept the request for a parliamentary investigation," in front of the main entrance to Ewha Womans University in Daehyeon-dong, Seoul.
Bong U-ri (21), the student president of Ewha Womans University said, "We decided to raise this issue because we thought social change would not be possible without actions from college students." Student councils at Kyunghee University, Sungkonghoe University, Sookmyung Women's University, and Dongduk Women's University also released a statement this day.
In addition to these universities, students at Yonsei University and Korea University are also preparing to release a statement on the NIS scandal. The Korea University student council said, "We met with the Yonsei University student council on June 19 and confirmed that the NIS case was a serious and grave matter. We will collect opinions from our students and decide how to express our position sometime next week."
The Hankuk University Students Association plans to hold a candlelight cultural festival for college students and denounce the NIS in front of the KT building in Gwanghwamun, Seoul at 7 p.m. on June 21.
Nine figures including Democratic lawmaker Do Jong-hwan, the poet Ahn Do-hyun, Seoul National University professor Cho Kuk, Dongyang University professor Chin Jung-kwon, film director Chung Ji-young, Sisa IN reporter Joo Jin-woo, Sungkonghoe University professor Tak Hyun-min, and former Korea National Police University professor Pyo Chang-won also released a joint statement on the NIS incident.
They said, "The NIS's involvement in elections is a threat to the foundation of our nation with no room for excuses. Yet what's more serious is the arrogant and irresponsible attitude of the president, Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling party. They should keep in mind that if they disregard the rage of the people and the public sentiment, it can lead to unfortunate events--the people may refuse to accept the election results or deny the incumbent government's legitimacy."
Meanwhile the conservative Korea Freedom Foundation released a statement claiming, "Some people are trying to take advantage of the NIS case to start a second 'mad cow disease candlelight vigil.' Those who triggered a massive candlelight demonstration under the past Lee Myung-bak government are seeking ways to shake the current government."
Phone calls threatening the recent initiative by the college students once flooded the Ewha Womans University student council. A member of the Ewha student council said, "Men who sounded to be in their 40s and 50s kept calling asking us whether we had asked the students before deciding to release the statement, and complaining that we were being too biased when more bad things had happened under Roh Moo-hyun. Just before the press conference, someone through a hard object at our office and completely shattered the window."
On the morning of June 20, the Seoul National University (SNU) student council held a press conference outside the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong, Seoul and said, "At the center of this incident lies the fact that government authorities interfered with an election, through which the people exercise their sovereignty, and undermined the democratic process.
NIS officials who abused their authority and intervened in the presidential election and the police who deceived the public through a limited investigation and false reports must be punished." More than 70 students from Seoul National University were present at the press conference.
Student president Kim Hyeong-rae (third from left) and students of Seoul National University denounce the National Intelligence Service for interfering with elections and urge the government to uncover the truth outside the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-dong, Seoul on June 20. Yonhap News
Kim Hyeong-rae (24), president of the SNU student council said, "The actions of the intelligence agency broke a social consensus on democracy and shattered the belief people held that an election is a fair process. Former director Won Sei-hoon actually injured the authority of the president." The SNU student council decided to announce a statement denouncing the NIS incident sometime next month.
The student council of Ewha Womans University also claimed that, "Democracy, which blossomed with the June demonstrations in 1987, is facing a great crisis with the intervention in elections by government authorities. Those responsible for interfering with the elections and blocking the investigation should be punished and the National Assembly should immediately accept the request for a parliamentary investigation," in front of the main entrance to Ewha Womans University in Daehyeon-dong, Seoul.
Bong U-ri (21), the student president of Ewha Womans University said, "We decided to raise this issue because we thought social change would not be possible without actions from college students." Student councils at Kyunghee University, Sungkonghoe University, Sookmyung Women's University, and Dongduk Women's University also released a statement this day.
In addition to these universities, students at Yonsei University and Korea University are also preparing to release a statement on the NIS scandal. The Korea University student council said, "We met with the Yonsei University student council on June 19 and confirmed that the NIS case was a serious and grave matter. We will collect opinions from our students and decide how to express our position sometime next week."
The Hankuk University Students Association plans to hold a candlelight cultural festival for college students and denounce the NIS in front of the KT building in Gwanghwamun, Seoul at 7 p.m. on June 21.
Nine figures including Democratic lawmaker Do Jong-hwan, the poet Ahn Do-hyun, Seoul National University professor Cho Kuk, Dongyang University professor Chin Jung-kwon, film director Chung Ji-young, Sisa IN reporter Joo Jin-woo, Sungkonghoe University professor Tak Hyun-min, and former Korea National Police University professor Pyo Chang-won also released a joint statement on the NIS incident.
They said, "The NIS's involvement in elections is a threat to the foundation of our nation with no room for excuses. Yet what's more serious is the arrogant and irresponsible attitude of the president, Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling party. They should keep in mind that if they disregard the rage of the people and the public sentiment, it can lead to unfortunate events--the people may refuse to accept the election results or deny the incumbent government's legitimacy."
Meanwhile the conservative Korea Freedom Foundation released a statement claiming, "Some people are trying to take advantage of the NIS case to start a second 'mad cow disease candlelight vigil.' Those who triggered a massive candlelight demonstration under the past Lee Myung-bak government are seeking ways to shake the current government."
Phone calls threatening the recent initiative by the college students once flooded the Ewha Womans University student council. A member of the Ewha student council said, "Men who sounded to be in their 40s and 50s kept calling asking us whether we had asked the students before deciding to release the statement, and complaining that we were being too biased when more bad things had happened under Roh Moo-hyun. Just before the press conference, someone through a hard object at our office and completely shattered the window."
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