Rep . Na Kyung - won of main opposition Liberty Korea Party ( Yonhap ) A South Korean conservative politician and member of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee came under fire after she sent a letter to the International Olympics Committee demanding a reconsideration of its approval of parts of inter - Korean agreements related to the North ’ s participation at the Winter Games . On Friday , Rep . Na Kyung - won , a four - term lawmaker from the main opposition Liberty Korea Party and a member of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympics and Paralympics , sent an email to the IOC and International Paralympic Committee , claiming that North Korea ’ s participation in the Feb . 9 - 25 Winter Games has led to a violation of the Olympic spirit .   “ I sent a letter to explain that expanding the number of entries only for the South - North joint women ’ s ice hockey team violates the Olympic spirit of fair competition , ” she said in a press release . “ It is hard to accept that some of the South Korean players will lose their qualification to enter in the games . ” The North is also trying to take advantage of the Olympics as a way to propagandize its communist regime , which contravenes the political neutrality stated in the Olympic Charter , Na said in explaining her email . The lawmaker also criticized the liberal Moon Jae - in administration , saying that it is promoting the PyeongChang Olympics as the “ Pyongyang Olympics , ” in a Facebook post on Saturday . Although her statement -- which is in line with the conservative Liberty Korea Party ’ s position -- gained traction among her supporters , she faced harsh criticisms that her act was inappropriate as a committee member of the Olympics committee here . More than 108 , 300 citizens had signed petitions on the Cheong Wa Dae website as of 5 p . m . Monday , calling for her removal from the PyeongChang Organizing Committee . If an online petition posted on the Cheong Wa Dae website garners more than 200 , 000 signatories within 30 days , the presidential office should issue a formal response . Opposition lawmakers also criticized Rep . Na . The ruling Democratic Party of Korea ’ s floor leader Rep . Woo Won - sik condemned the Liberty Korea Party as to disrupt the government ’ s peace drive inviting North Korea . “ It is pathetic how Rep . Na and her Liberty Korea Party are stuck in anachronism and maintain that the Olympics will become an event for the North ’ s propaganda . Some 100 countries in the world are expected to take part , and it will be a world festival , ” the party ’ s spokesperson said in a separate statement . In defense of her letter , the lawmaker on Monday said she supports the North ’ s participation , but reiterated her opposition to details of the inter - Korean agreement . “ In 2013 , I was the chairwoman of the PyeongChang Special Olympics World Winter Games Organizing Committee and I called for North Korea to participate in the Olympics , ” she said in her Facebook post , calling for the ruling party ’ s floor leader Woo to apologize for misleading the public that she is opposing the participation of the North as a whole . “ I do welcome the participation of the North Korean athletes , but forming a joint single team , holding joint ski training in Masikryung Ski Resort in the North and holding a ceremony at Kumgangsan are events designed as shows , ” she said the statement . “ All of these agreed plans go against the international sanctions on North Korea . It also does not make any sense when we look at the past relationship with the North . ” She said she has not yet received an answer from the IOC .   By Jo He - rim ( herim @ heraldcorp . com ) [ 코리아 헤럴드 ] [ K - POP HERALD ] [ 페이스북 ] <ⓒ KoreaHerald ( www . koreaherald . com ) 무단 전재 및 재 배포 금지 >