[Interview] Youngest Supreme Council Member Park Seong-min: "Democratic Party's Gender Issue Response Insufficient... I Will Be a 'Needle in the Pocket'"

Aspirations as Supreme Council Member: "Frank and Unreserved"
Democratic Party's Handling of Gender Issues 'Insufficient', Youth Issues 'Progressed'
On Negative Views of Appointments: "I Will Be Judged by Results"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] "I think I will play a role like an awl in a pocket."

Park Seongmin, former youth spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea (24), who was 'surprisingly' appointed as a nominated Supreme Council member on the 31st of last month, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 1st, "I will be a vessel that communicates with the party by reflecting the voices of ordinary citizens, youth, and women."

Park was selected through the Democratic Party youth spokesperson audition last September. During his time as spokesperson, he openly criticized the party's handling of issues such as the Incheon International Airport Corporation (In-guk-gong) incident and the late Park Won-soon, former mayor of Seoul, saying "This should not be done." He said, "After my appointment, I received a call from Representative Lee Nak-yeon. I told him I would speak frankly without hesitation. Then he said he understood and asked me to do so," indicating he would continue his candid criticism. He added, "It would be a lie to say I am not afraid. However, when the party becomes dull and delivers messages in inappropriate ways, it is essential to play a role in raising awareness. If the representative feared different voices, he would not have made such a bold decision."

Born in 1996, a third-year university student about to start the semester on the 1st, and a woman. Some have negative views on this appointment. He said, "I have no regrets," and added, "Politics is judged by results. I will prove myself by turning question marks into exclamation points." He also said, "I am a youth, but not a politician; I am a politician, but just happen to be young," and "I do not intend to limit my voice only to youth and gender issues."

In fact, this is not his first political endeavor. Since joining the party in 2018, he has been active in the party’s university student committee, spent the National Assembly inspection period at the office of Democratic Party lawmaker Woo Sang-ho, and learned that 'political imagination' is necessary for legislation. In his hometown Yongin, he worked hard on youth policy formulation.

Since Representative Lee judged him to be "the right person for youth and women's issues," how does he assess the party’s response? Park pointed out, "The response to gender issues is really insufficient." He emphasized, "There is no established mid- to long-term system to raise gender sensitivity within the party. The party always responds only when issues arise. A permanent discussion body is truly necessary." Regarding youth issues, he said, "There has been progress. Youth have started entering the National Assembly, and there is much interest within the party in youth pledges," but he also evaluated, "It is regrettable that youth do not hold the key to solutions. There is still a lack of microphones to convey their voices."

He has a busy schedule ahead. Park said, "I have returned to school this semester. University students have many concerns about online lectures, and I plan to listen carefully and communicate with the party." He concluded the interview by saying, "I am an extremely ordinary person, a university student, and a woman. Perhaps that was the reason for my selection."

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