In a recent radio appearance, National Power Party official Cho Kwang-han expressed disbelief at the life sentence imposed on former President Yoon Seok-yeol for his alleged role in insurrection, likening it to past judicial scandals, particularly the Inhyeokdang case from the 1970s. This case, infamous for the wrongful conviction of individuals under the authoritarian regime of Park Chung-hee, is considered one of the gravest judicial injustices in South Korean history, where victims were falsely accused of being part of a communist conspiracy. Cho's comments provoked significant backlash, highlighting the sensitive nature of historical state violence and its impact on current political discussions.

The Inhyeokdang incident severely marred the reputation of the South Korean judiciary, after the Supreme Court affirmed death penalties for eight people based on dubious evidence in a legal process deemed highly irregular. Victims of the Inhyeokdang incident were later exonerated in retrials, contributing to the narrative of state-sponsored judicial murder in South Korea. Critics of Cho's statement, including lawmakers from the Basic Income Party, condemned the minimization of the trauma inflicted on these historical victims by equating their suffering with contemporary political disputes.

The ongoing contestation of Yoon Seok-yeol's controversial life sentence underscores the persistent tensions in South Korean politics regarding accountability and historical memory. By invoking the Inhyeokdang incident, the National Power Party risked trivializing the profound impacts of historical injustices on victims and their families. Furthermore, lawmakers have called for recognition and sincere apologies to victims of past state violence, asserting that such acknowledgment is essential for the country's healing and legal integrity.