Hwang Kyaw-an, chairman of the Liberal Korea Party
According to the "Korea Herald" reported on the 17th, the leader of South Korea's main opposition party, the Liberal Korea Party, shaved his hair in front of the Blue House on Monday and asked Justice Minister Cao Guo to resign. Cao Guo's family was accused of corruption.
In protest against South Korean President Moon Jae-in's appointment of Cho Kwok as minister of justice, Liberal Korea Mps Park In-sook and Independent Mps Lee Eun-joo shaved their heads, followed by Liberal Korea Party Chairman Hwang Kyung-ahn.
South Korean politicians sometimes shave their heads in public to visually convey information about political or social issues in this bold way. This expression of rebellion apparently stems from Chinese Confucian culture.
Liberal Korea Party MP Park In-sook (left) Independence MP Lee Eun-joo (right)
Culture critic Kim Sung-so said: "According to Confucianism, which emphasizes filial piety, destroying any part of your body, including the hair given by your parents, is unforgivable disrespect." Therefore, shaving off one's hair means one's determination to something that is almost worth risking one's life. ”
Cultural significance aside, many are beginning to question the real intent behind politicians' actions.
Choi Chang-yoo, a professor of political science at Yongin University, said: "Shaving your head may be visually shocking, but I doubt the public will be persuaded by it. ”
Cao Guo
Kim Sula, a 27-year-old passerby who witnessed Huang Jiao'an's shaving behavior, sees it as just an act of grandstanding. "I don't think Mr. Huang is any different from other politicians in the past who shaved their heads and didn't do anything," she said. ”
While many have denounced the actions of lawmakers as reckless and contrived, others have defended the Liberal Korea Party, calling it a last resort for the opposition at the moment.
(Edit: wdq)