Rev. Jeon Kwang-hoon, senior pastor of Sarang Jeil Church, has been arrested for allegedly orchestrating violent disturbances at the Seoul Western District Court. On the 18th, members of Sarang Jeil Church and free-right citizens gathered in front of the Donghwa Duty Free Shop in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to hold a national salvation prayer service. [Photo=Yonhap News]

The Madness of Calling a Deer a Horse: A Tragic Era Where Truth is Violated

Fellow citizens who are the sovereign power! And patriotic citizens who love freedom! 

The freedom of religion and freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Korea are being brutally violated in the name of state power! 

Not only has the government declared a specific religion as "harmful" and discussed its dissolution, but it has also imprisoned pastors Jeon Kwang-hoon and Son Hyun-bo, who are leading patriotic movements with the full support of the people, and representative Byun Hee-jae, a journalist who speaks the truth, in cold prison cells! 

The current situation is no different from the ancient Chinese idiom '指鹿為馬' (zhǐ lù wéi mǎ), attributed to Zhao Gao of the Qin Dynasty, who forced people to acknowledge a deer as a horse, thus mocking the truth. 

Today, the righteous warriors defending the free market, with the spirit of a Confucian scholar sacrificing life for righteousness (捨生取義), solemnly declare to the people and history the miserable end of this dictatorial power! 

The People Become the Foolish King Hu Hai: How Long Will You Be Deceived by the Serpent's Schemes?

The reason for such a rampant abuse of power is clear. It is because judges, prosecutors, and journalists are cowardly remaining silent in the face of the Lee Jae-myung administration's malicious schemes and reign of terror! 

However, the most painful fact is that the people, the sovereign power, have been reduced to 'foolish King Hu Hai.' Hu Hai, deceived by Zhao Gao's manipulations, could not even trust the deer he saw with his own eyes. 

Similarly, today's citizens, lacking patriotic education, turn a blind eye to Lee Jae-myung's incitement and flatter and remain silent even when faced with blatant injustice. 

The persecution of freedom of religion and the press is merely the venomous tool wielded by those who are like serpents to maintain their power! Citizens who lose their sense of shame (羞惡之心) in the face of such behavior and do not resist injustice are no longer the masters of this country! 

Zhao Gao's Tragic End... Those Who Imprison Truth Will Only Face Ruin

History never lies! 

Zhao Gao, who wielded unchecked power and muzzled religion and the press, was ultimately executed by the very emperor he installed, meeting a miserable end where his entire clan was annihilated. Those who are currently imprisoning patriotic pastors and journalists and attempting to cover up and suppress the truth are identical to Zhao Gao and will face a similarly tragic fate! 

If the freedom of religion collapses, the freedom of citizens will also disappear. Following Son Hyun-bo, Jeon Kwang-hoon, and Byun Hee-jae, our citizens will also be imprisoned and stripped of their freedom of expression. 

It is an eternal truth, both East and West, that power that relies on falsehoods and loses the trust of its people (無信不立) will inevitably self-destruct from within. 

No matter how much they claim to uphold democracy or label resistance to dictatorship as rebellion, the judgment of history has already recorded their downfall! 

A 'Patriotic Grandpa' Who Can Face Future Generations: We Must Rise with a Spirit of National Salvation

Respected citizens! It is time to stop mere lip-service patriotism and engage in passionate action! 

Throw away the base survival instinct that merely begs to live long and shouts only about '9988' (living to 99 and being healthy until 88)! Should we not stand tall with the attitude of fulfilling our divinely appointed mission (考終命)? 

Let us establish correctness in our respective fields and actively practice patriotic activities suited to our capabilities! Let us become 'patriotic grandpas' who can proudly tell their grandchildren that 'Grandpa did not stay silent cowardly when the nation was in danger'! 

Only the sovereign power armed with the spirit of national salvation can end Lee Jae-myung's Zhao Gao-style tyranny and defend the Republic of Korea of freedom. Therefore, the righteous warriors earnestly leave this proclamation before the people and history. 

Sincerely, Shin Baek-hoon (신백훈), Righteous Warriors for the Defense of the Free Market 

◆ Dr. Shin Baek-hoon

A Confucian scholar. A scholar of Eastern philosophy. Representative of Jeongik Academy. Former visiting professor at Sungkyunkwan University. His works include 'A Word Better Than a Thousand Gold Pieces,' 'New Version of Myeongsimbogam,' 'Record of One Year at Inheon High School,' and 'Hanja Dictionary for the Rich.'