South Korean Presidential Office criticizes Democratic Party of Korea for inflammatory politics: ”Political responsibility is unavoidable”

On the 26th, the South Korean presidential office said that the allegations made by the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea that the Yoon Seok-yeol administration was trying to erase Liancourt Rocks (Takeshima) and that it was preparing for martial law were just ghost stories.
He also strongly criticized the opposition party for not being able to exist without telling ghost stories, such as mad cow disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy), THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), Fukushima, and now the idea of erasing Liancourt Rocks and preparing for martial law.
"Isn't there a reason for this?" he said, pointing out that "if they incite people with unfounded ghost stories to appeal to their concrete supporters, they will not be able to avoid political responsibility."
Presidential spokesperson Jeon Hye Jin said at a presidential press conference on the same day, "Prudent citizens should not dismiss outdated pro-Japanese sentiment or martial law sentiment.
Regarding the criticism that Takeshima should be erased, he said, "Why is the opposition party doubting something that does not exist (the idea of erasing Takeshima)?
"I would like to ask you about the map," he said, arguing that "Lokdo is our territory historically, geographically, and under international law." He also said, "Regarding our territory, which we have de facto control, the largest opposition party has
"The bigger problem is that they are questioning our rights," he said. He also explained that the removal of sculptures depicting Liancourt Rocks from subway stations and the War Memorial of Korea was a measure to reinstall them as they had become old.
"The sculptures at the subway stations were made 15 years ago, while those at the War Memorial of Japan were made 12 years ago, and have become faded and worn," Jung said.
"They will be replaced with new items, and all six exhibits at the War Memorial of Korea will be retrieved, restored and reinstalled," he added.
He continued, "The government that is trying to erase Liancourt Rocks is defending Liancourt Rocks twice a year.
"Are they going to train to be able to use the pro-Japanese frame to their advantage?" he asked. "So far this month, the Democratic Party has mentioned pro-Japanese ideology in 33 press conferences and commentaries.
"Seeing them bring up the issue of Dokdo makes me question whether they are befitting a public political party and whether they have any consideration for the national interest."
Chung also squarely responded to the Democratic Party's claim that the current administration is preparing for martial law.
"Despite having a majority of seats, they are running a politics that seems to rely on ghost stories about martial law. They are making excuses according to the situation," Chung said.
He added, "How can such a debilitating debate actually help the lives of the people?"
On the same day, the Presidential Office announced that the total government and household debt in the second and fourth quarters of this year had increased 1.
In regards to the ratio of household debt to gross domestic product (GDP) exceeding 3,000 trillion won, he said, "The Yoon administration is closely managing the ratio of household debt to GDP."
A presidential office official said, "I don't think it's appropriate to compare it with the previous administration, but the national debt was over 400 trillion won under the previous administration.
"However, the 2024 budget has increased by 120 trillion won," he added.