[앵커]
The controversy over the’Korea-Japan Submarine Tunnel’ that suddenly appeared ahead of the Busan mayoral by-election in April is growing. Opposition also came from within the party toward Kim Jong-in, chairman of the People’s Strength Emergency Response Committee, who raised the issue for the first time.
Reporter Choi Soo-yeon reports.
[기자]
The construction of the Korea-Japan submarine tunnel proposed by Chairman Kim Jong-in encountered opposition within the party.
In a call with jtbc, Rep. Kim Hee-guk said, “The government reviewed the submarine tunnel in 2003, but it was already concluded that it was not effective.”
“It could be a route of invasion for Japan,” he pointed out that “the party needs more in-depth review.”
It is similar to the Democratic Party’s claim that it only favors Japan economically and militaryly.
Assemblyman Kim is an expert in the field of land construction, who served as the vice minister of the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs during the Lee Myung-bak administration.
Another member of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport also said, “It would have been nice if Chairman Kim had consulted with experts in the party in advance.”
When complaints came out even within the power of the people, the Democratic Party raised the level of offensive.
[최인호/더불어민주당 수석대변인 : 김종인 위원장은 사과하고 한·일 해저터널 공약을 즉각 철회하십시오.]
Following the recent remarks of’transfer act’, he said that it caused controversy one after another, and even called for political retirement.
[김태년/더불어민주당 원내대표 : 김종인 위원장이 추구하는 혁신과 변화가 구태정치로의 회귀라면 이제 정치적 소임을 그만 내려놔야 합니다.]
The government also expressed its position that there was no economic or practical benefit.
[변창흠/국토교통부 장관 : (과거) 경제적인 측면으로 타당성이 없는 거다 이렇게… 외교적 측면, 군사적인 측면 등 종합적으로 검토해서 결정해야 된다 생각합니다. (현재) 검토하고 있지는 않은 상태에 있습니다.]
As the controversy grew, Chairman Kim Jong-in strongly refuted it.
[김종인/국민의힘 비상대책위원장 : 누가 그런 소리를 하는지 모르지만 해저터널하고 친일하고 관계가 없어요. 일본을 우리 목적을 위해서 이용할 수 있는 이런 생각을 해야 돼요.]
Compared to the past, our economic power has also grown, and it is said that we can fully examine it.
(Video Design: Yunna Kim)