[Comprehensive] "Will Keep Promise to Participate in Women's Policy" Lee Nak-yeon, Bold Appointment of 24-Year-Old University Student Park Seong-min

Youngest Ever Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party
Selected as Youth Spokesperson Through August Audition Last Year
Recently Emphasized "Need for Swift Response to Sexual Misconduct Allegations" in Column

On the 31st, Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, drew attention by surprisingly appointing Park Seong-min, a 20-year-old college student and the party's youth spokesperson, as one of the nominated Supreme Council members. Born in 1996 and 24 years old this year, Park was appointed as the youth spokesperson last August after a public audition through the Democratic Party's official YouTube channel "Sseum." He is currently on leave from Korea University. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Park Seongmin, former youth spokesperson, who was appointed by Lee Nak-yeon, the new leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, as one of the party’s nominated Supreme Council members on the 31st, is drawing attention. Born in 1996 and 24 years old this year, Park is expected to become the youngest Supreme Council member in the history of the Democratic Party.

Choi In-ho, the Democratic Party’s chief spokesperson, announced in a briefing on the 31st that Lee appointed Park Hong-bae, chairman of the Korean Federation of Financial Trade Unions, and former spokesperson Park Seongmin as nominated Supreme Council members. The party leader has the authority to appoint two nominated Supreme Council members.

Park was previously selected as the youth spokesperson through a public audition on the Democratic Party’s official YouTube channel "Sseum" in August last year.

He studied Korean Language and Literature at Korea University but is currently on leave of absence. He has also been active as an operating committee member of the Democratic Party’s National University Student Committee, co-chairman of the Yongin City Youth Policy Committee, and a member of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family’s Youth Participation Platform Policy Promotion Team. Thus, Park is expected to become the youngest and first university student Supreme Council member in the history of the Democratic Party.

Lee’s appointment of Park is seen as a move to discover talented youth and female members within the Democratic Party and to strengthen related policy capabilities, thereby expanding support among these voter groups.

In particular, the Democratic Party has recently faced criticism within the party for lacking "gender sensitivity" due to a series of sexual misconduct issues involving local government heads affiliated with the party.

Democratic Party lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja appeared on a radio broadcast on the 4th and said, "I apologize for the recent sexual scandal-related incidents," adding, "What is needed is not just verbal apologies but a comprehensive reform of the Democratic Party’s gender sensitivity, an apology in the form of action."

Lee Nak-yeon, the newly appointed leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is entering the press briefing room at the National Assembly on the 31st. / Photo by Yonhap News

Park also contributed a column titled "Women Have Left the Democratic Party" to a media outlet on the 26th, arguing that swift responses to gender issues are necessary to restore women’s support for the Democratic Party.

In the column, he pointed out that the decline in women’s support for the Democratic Party occurred "immediately after sexual misconduct issues involving local government heads affiliated with the party sparked public outrage."

He added, "Our party has declared a zero-tolerance policy on sexual misconduct, but the consensus is that the recent series of incidents showed inadequate responses. It was the moment when the expectation that politics would support the vulnerable was completely shattered," emphasizing, "The fundamental solution is the party’s swift and resolute response when allegations of sexual misconduct arise."

Chief spokesperson Choi In-ho introduced Park at a briefing held at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul, saying, "Park Seongmin is not only a representative of youth but also a highly capable talent as a youth spokesperson," and "He especially has the strength to respond promptly and sensitively to gender issues as a young person and a woman."

He added, "He is the right person to communicate openly about the difficulties faced by young people, make proposals to the party, and solve problems."

Lee also explained at a press conference on the same day that this appointment "is an effort to fulfill my repeated promise to institutionalize the participation of youth and women in the party’s decision-making process."

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