Democratic Party Secures Voter Support Amid 'Makmal Gongsse' Offensive

Criticism Grows Including 'Mangwon Tonghapdang'
Calls for Apology from Leadership
Lee Nak-yeon "End Politics of Hatred"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] Ahead of the April 15 general election, the Democratic Party has launched a defensive campaign with criticism against the series of 'reckless remarks controversies' involving the United Future Party candidates. This is interpreted as an active offensive against the reckless remarks controversy, conscious of the possibility that the controversy could act as a variable influencing the undecided voters' sentiment.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kang Hoon-sik, the chief spokesperson of the Democratic Party, raised the issue of responsibility of the United Future Party leadership. In a briefing on the 9th, Kang said, "The parade of shameless reckless remarks by United Future Party candidates has reached its peak," adding, "At this point, it is a 'Reckless Remarks United Party.' Without strict measures and a sincere apology, it will not be able to avoid the stern judgment of the people," demanding an apology at the leadership level.

He referred to the controversial United Future Party candidates Cha Myung-jin from Bucheon City B district in Gyeonggi Province and Kim Dae-ho from Gwanak Gap district in Seoul, then directly targeted Hwang Kyo-ahn, the party leader, saying, "Hwang Kyo-ahn, who defended the three reckless remarks makers related to the May 18 incident, treated the May 18 Democratic Movement as 'some kind of incident,' and the public already knows well that he revealed his vulgar level of awareness without filtering through his 'curiosity remarks' about the Nth Room case." He criticized, "It is doubtful what measures a party whose leader is not free from reckless remarks can take against the countless reckless remark makers."

The Democratic Party’s proportional representation party, the Together Citizens' Party, also launched an offensive. On the same day, the Citizens' Party held a 'Reckless Remarks Condemnation Press Conference' and stated, "The 21st general election must be an election that punishes the politics of reckless remarks." They continued, "The United Future Party, which stabbed the hearts of the people with all kinds of verbal daggers and became a laughingstock itself, must completely disappear through this election," sharpening their criticism.

Lee Nak-yeon, the standing election committee chairman of the Democratic Party, brought out the card of 'reconciliation and unity.' On the 9th, Lee wrote on Facebook, "Reckless remarks and apologies are still repeated. Reckless remarks come from hatred," adding, "Unless the politics of hatred is eradicated, reckless remarks will continue." He also said, "Leaders must first shake off hatred from their hearts. I will start by making an effort myself."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the subsequent campaign event in Jongno, he emphasized, "I know that even Democratic Party members are not free from reckless remarks," and said, "I hope politicians will be careful with their words and always reflect on whether there is a seed of hatred in their hearts." This appears to be a statement conscious of the fact that the Democratic Party cannot avoid criticism over the 'reckless remarks controversy' either.

There is an analysis that the Democratic Party’s 'defensive move' is closely related to capturing the undecided voters' sentiment. These voters, who do not easily make decisions until election day, are sensitive to 'reckless remarks.' Park Sang-byeong, a visiting professor at Inha University Graduate School of Policy, explained, "Swing voters, who make up about 15%, have high political interest and relatively rational characteristics, so they react sensitively to specific issues occurring at the end of the election," adding, "The issue that affects them the most is the 'reckless remarks issue.'" He further added, "In the metropolitan area, it is likely to act not as a variable but as a decisive factor."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.