허지웅, “촛불 시위는 취미일뿐” 발언 논란

Published : Aug 19, 2013 - 18:29 Updated : Aug 19, 2013 - 18:29

문화평론가이자 컬럼니스트인 허지웅 씨가 최근 시청 앞 광장에서 진행된 촛불 시위에 대해 “취미 활동일 뿐”이라고 한 발언이 논란이 되고 있다.

허 씨는 자신의 트위터에 18일 “국정원 이슈는 문제지만 시국 선언은 오버"라며 "지금의 촛불도 취미활동 이상의 충분한 당위를 찾을 수 없다”고 적었다.

그는 또한 “정의는 세상이 몰라준다면서요? 그렇다면 제발 정의롭게 말고 똘똘하게 행동합시다”라면서 현 상황에서 촛불 집회가 별 효과를 볼 수 없음을 강조했다. 허 씨는 이어 “(촛불 시위 외에) 다른 대안을 찾을 수 없다면 야권에 당분간 희망이 없다는 방증일 것”이라고 적었다.

이와 같은 발언이 알려지자 누리꾼들은 갑론을박하고 있다. 한 인터넷 유저는 유저는 “그 사람들이(촛불 집회 참가자) 허지웅 보고 우리 좀 응원해주세요, 같이 나와서 촛불 좀 드세요 강요 한 것도 아니다. 아무런 대안이 없는 비아냥이나 듣자고 그 사람들 자기 시간 쪼개가면서 촛불 들고 물대포 맞는 것도 아니다”고 허 씨의 발언을 비판했다.

또 다른 네티즌은 “부정선거의 진실을 제대로 밝히지 않으면 유능한 진보정당이 제도권에 진출할 수 있었을까”하고 적었다.

그러나 다른 한쪽에서는 “지금 벌어지고 있는 촛불시위는 대선불복하며 징징거리는 전문시위꾼들의 취미생활로 밖에 안보인다”면서 허 씨의 주장을 지지하였다.

한편 진중권 동양대학교 교수는 허 씨의 발언에 대해 “사람마다 생각이 다르다”면서 네티즌들에게 “쿨하게 넘기라”고 조언했다. 그러나 진 교수는 허 씨의 발언에 동의하는 것은 아니라면서 “그 역시 촛불집회와 시국선언을 하는 사람들의 '다른' 생각을 그냥 쿨하게 넘겼으면...”이라고 트위터에 적었다. (코리아헤럴드)

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Candlelight vigil nothing more than pastime: columnist

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)