South Korean political columnist and film critic Heo Ji-woong on Monday found himself at the center of heated debate after he criticized participants of recent candlelight vigils that berated the National Intelligence Agency for allegedly interfering in last year’s presidential election.

“I cannot imagine any justification for candlelight vigils that recently took place, other than them being a simple pastime,” Heo wrote on Twitter Sunday. The recent vigils, led mainly by the main opposition Democratic Party and its supporters, demanded that President Park Geun-hye apologize for the spy agency’s supposed involvement in December’s presidential poll.

The suspicion that the NIS had attempted to sway public opinion toward Park, who at the time was a candidate for the Saenuri Party, prompted the ongoing parliamentary probe on the scandal.

Heo blasted the DP for taking part in vigils, which he claimed were virtually ineffective. “Is that the only option DP can come up with? Can you do nothing else besides just holding citizens hostage and crying?” he said.

Heo said while the NIS scandal is indeed a problem, the actions by the DP are not appropriate. He called the street protests an “overreaction” and urged the opposition to fight within consented rules.

“Don’t act righteous, act smart. Would raising candles make President Park apologize and step down?” he said.

The comments brought about fierce response online early Monday.

“They (the participants of candlelight vigils) did not beg Heo to join them. Those people did not take their precious time to raise candles and get hit by water cannons just to hear sarcasm by someone who did not offer any alternative,” wrote one netizen.

Another netizen, however, said that he or she agreed with Heo, saying the candlelight vigils are not for democracy. “It is laughable. The way I see it, it’s merely a pastime by ‘professional protestors’ who just can’t take the election loss (by the opposition),” the netizen said.

Dongyang University professor and influential online commentator urged people to “be cool” and accept Heo’s opinion as it is, saying all people think differently. “Of course, I don’t agree with him. I hope he (Heo) will also be cool with people taking part in those protests,” Chin wrote on Twitter Monday.

Heo, a former reporter for various local film magazines, is a columnist renowned for his candid opinion on current issues. He is best known to the public for his regular appearance on JTBC’s “Sseol-jeon (Battle of Words),” a show on which panels consisting of journalists, comedians and former politicians discuss South Korean politics.



By Yoon Min-sik
(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)