Yun Ho-jung (left) and Park Ji-hyeon, permanent election chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, show a dark expression at a joint election committee meeting for the balance of state affairs and stability of the people held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the morning of the 25th. By Oh Dae-geun
On the 25th, shouts were heard from the closed meeting room of the Democratic Party’s June 1 local election campaign committee. It was the sound of meeting attendees arguing. The frontline of the fight is one person, Park Ji-hyeon, who was born in 1996, the chairman of the Joint Emergency Response Countermeasures Committee, versus a number of lawmakers belonging to the party leadership from the 86th generation (students in the 80s, born in the 1960s). The gist of the argument delivered by a Democratic Party official is as follows:
▷ Ho-jung Yun, Chairman of Joint Emergency Response Committee: (Slamming the desk) “(Chairman Park) has no leadership qualifications. I won’t hold a non-captain meeting today.”
▷Park Hong-geun, floor leader: “Isn’t this the place for (Chairman Park) to be personally?”
▷Rep. Jeon Hae-cheol: “I hope (Chairman Park) will discuss it with the leadership and make a statement in the future.”
▷ Chairman Park Ji-hyun: “Then why did you put me here?”
86th generation “personal opinion” to Park Ji-hyun’s ‘request for party reform’
After losing the presidential election, the Democratic Party held up Chairman Park as an ‘icon of renewal’ for a while. He was appointed as the leader of the Joint Vice Chairman of the party. Why was Chairman Park in a situation where he was subjected to collective rebuke for the first time in regarding three months? In conclusion, this is because he demanded the ’86 generations to resign,’ the party’s mainstream.
Chairman Park said this in the remarks of the previous members of the committee, which were released to the media on the 25th. “The goal of Korean politics in 2022 is to overcome disparities, discrimination and inequality that 86 politicians might not have imagined. The remaining role of the 86th generation is to pave the way for young people in their 20s and 30s to solve these issues and create a younger Democratic Party.”
Chairman Park also reaffirmed the ‘zero tolerance principle’ on the 25th regarding the allegations of sexual harassment by Rep. Choi Kang-wook surrounded by the hardliners of the Democratic Party. “No matter how difficult it is, we must not succumb to the text bombs of the extreme supporters. Even by activating the emergency disciplinary authority of the non-captain, I will finish the disciplinary procedure for Rep. Choi.”
At Chairman Park’s ‘direct speech’, the expression of the participants of the 86th meeting hardened. Some attendees said they sighed or looked at Chairman Park.
Chairman Park also held a press conference on the 24th to apologize for the mistakes of the Democratic Party, which was hit by a catastrophic defeat in the local election, as a representative, insisting on the resignation of the 86th generation politicians and breaking up with the fandom politics they used like a shield. Chairman Park did not back down even following hearing public ‘admonitions’ such as “It is a personal opinion” (Chairman Ho-Jung Yun) and “It is the wrong attitude and method” (Min-Seok Kim, general manager of the election committee).
Choi Kang-wook, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was charged with falsely writing the internship certificate of the son of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, answers questions from reporters following being sentenced to loss of office at an appeals trial held at the Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the followingnoon of the 20th. yunhap news
From ‘Icon of Faith’ to ‘Isolated Employee’
Chairman Park joined the Democratic Party in the last presidential election and contributed to mobilizing female voters in the 2040s to former presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung. While keeping a distance from her partisan interests, she freely spoke ‘correct words’ consistent with common sense and popular will became a hot topic, and she emerged as a powerful future politician. When former Democratic Party lawmaker Min Hyung-bae ‘disguisedly resigned from the party’ during the legislative process, he criticized it as “making expedient a habit”, and regarding the sluggish anti-discrimination law legislation, “The Democrats neglected what they promised 15 years ago for 15 years. The Democratic Party did it,” he wrote in a statement of reflection.
Chairman Park, however, has recently been placed in an isolated position. Among the party leaders who selected him and gave him the title of chairman of the platoon, there is no voice supporting him. An official from the Democratic Party’s leadership said in a phone call with the Hankook Ilbo, “Chairman Park’s provocative actions made the Democratic Party lawmakers into ‘non-reflective politicians’.”
This is the gist of the recent attack on Chairman Park, saying, “Say only the renewals that the Democratic Party’s mainstream allows.” However, a party leadership official said, “Chairman Park and Chairman Yoon are the joint emergency response committee chairs, so they should consult each other when making a statement.”
“I will go without shaking” Park selected straight ahead
Chairman Park is tough. In an article posted on the social networking service (SNS) on the 25th, he said, “I will go unwaveringly for party renewal and political reform no matter what obstacles arise.”
There were also a few voices of support. Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin said on SNS, “I will stand with Chairman Park. Chairman Park’s honest and direct apology must have resonated,” he said. Rep. Yang Yi Won-young pointed out, “It’s not regarding Chairman Park, but regarding our situation, where we have no choice but to hear things we don’t want to hear.”
for stop reporter cdragon25@hankookilbo.com
Jin Goo Kang reporter realnine@hankookilbo.com
