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UNDP presidential candidate Chung Dong-young.
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United New Democratic Party presidential candidate Chung Dong-young has opened a can of worms by saying Korea could become a supplier of ¡°international mercenaries¡± if it extends the mandate of its troops in Iraq. He was voicing opposition to the government¡¯s decision to extend the mandate of the Zaytun Unit in Irbil, northern Iraq, for another year despite an earlier decision to pull out this year.
Opposition parties like the Grand National Party, the Democratic Party and the People First Party called Chung¡¯s remarks shocking and thoughtless.
At a general meeting of UNDP lawmakers on Wednesday, Chung slammed GNP presidential candidate Lee Myung-bak¡¯s support for the extended mission, asking Lee to answer if it was ¡°acceptable if the Korean military serves as a supply source of world mercenaries.¡± He said Korea ¡°should not be seen as a nation that pursues its national interest by selling the blood of young soldiers.¡± Lee supports the extension, citing increased business opportunities for Korean companies in the process of Iraq¡¯s nation rebuilding as a reason.
Grand National Party chief policymaker Lee Hahn-koo countered that by Chung¡¯s standard, it was President Roh Moo-hyun who pursued the national interest by selling the blood of young Koreans. GNP spokeswoman Na Kyung-won called on Chung to apologize and ¡°review his qualifications as a presidential candidate when he hurts the pride of the Korean military and Zaytun Unit¡± with such remarks. Democratic Party presidential candidate Rhee In-je said Chung ¡°expressed contempt for both the military and the people.¡± He blasted Chung for ignoring national interest and resorting to populism to win votes.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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