Kim Jong-in's Controversial Remark "Few Normal Mothers in Single Mother Facilities"... Party Says "Please Consider the Full Context"

Listening to Challenges Faced by Unmarried Mothers with Intellectual and Mental Disabilities
"It Must Be Difficult Due to Their Mentally Vulnerable State," Intent
"Showing Care by Even Preparing Seaweed Themselves"

On the afternoon of the 9th, Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, visited a welfare facility for single-parent families in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, and received an explanation about the current situation.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is facing public backlash on the 10th for his remark during a visit to a facility for unmarried mothers, saying "There are not many normal mothers." The party explained, "Please consider the overall context," and clarified, "There was absolutely no such intention."

The situation is as follows. The day before, Chairman Kim visited Aeranwon, a facility for unmarried mothers and children located in Mapo-gu, Seoul. It was a meeting to hear about operational difficulties such as staffing and project expenses. Kim Mi-ae, a People Power Party lawmaker who accompanied him, explained, "Chairman Kim wanted to visit a difficult place before Lunar New Year, so we decided to go to Aeranwon, a facility for young unmarried mothers in the care blind spots."

Kang Young-sil, the director of Aeranwon, spoke about various difficulties on site, saying, "The mothers who come here are vulnerable and need psychiatric treatment, but there is not a single mental health collaboration channel for case management of these individuals," adding, "There was a mother who attempted suicide, but even here, collaboration did not work."

Director Kang also requested attention as she is preparing a forum with a psychiatric hospital in Junggok-dong, Seoul, saying, "People with mental or intellectual disabilities find it difficult to live in basic facilities, and 'unwanted mothers' go to communal living facilities, but even there it is hard. I think the law needs to be changed."

In response, Chairman Kim said, "It must be hard to manage the facility. You have to manage the mothers, but also the children," and added, "From my perspective, there are not many normal mothers, and since the children are born, they need to be properly cared for and protected so they can grow up normally, but it seems difficult even for the mothers." He further said, "Because they are in a very mentally vulnerable state, it must be hard for the mothers to raise their children well."

Although Chairman Kim’s remarks were made in the process of expressing empathy for the difficulties of mothers with intellectual disabilities and the challenges of operating Aeranwon, the phrase "not normal" ultimately sparked controversy.

Kim Mi-ae, a People Power Party lawmaker who accompanied Chairman Kim, told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "He did not say that general unmarried mothers are abnormal, but meant that the situation for (disabled unmarried mothers) must be very difficult," and explained, "Chairman Kim even prepared seaweed soup himself, showing his care, so there was absolutely no such intention."

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