[Summary] Kim Jong-in Visits Unwed Mother Facility, Sparks Controversy Saying "Not Many Normal Mothers"... Democratic and Justice Parties Demand Apology

與 "Kim Jong-in said he would listen to field difficulties but instead promoted social prejudice"
Single Mothers' Group "Kim Jong-in, who made derogatory remarks about single mothers and disabled people, must apologize"

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

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Kim Jong-in, the Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, sparked controversy by saying "There don't seem to be many normal mothers" during a visit to a support facility for single mothers. On the 10th, the Democratic Party and the Justice Party condemned Kim's remarks and called for his resignation.

Heo Young, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, held a briefing at the National Assembly Communication Office that morning and sharply criticized Kim's remarks as "demeaning single mothers by labeling them as 'abnormal' and stigmatizing them."

Heo continued, "Although Kim said he would listen to the difficulties on site, he stigmatized single mothers as 'not normal mothers,' and even disparaged people with disabilities, thereby fostering social prejudice. It is appalling. Instead of empathy where there is pain, he added insult to injury, and he must be held accountable for this," he said.

He added, "Kim must apologize immediately. His remarks are rooted in discriminatory consciousness, promoting social prejudice, disparaging disabilities, and stigmatizing single mothers as 'abnormal.' It is doubtful whether he is qualified to be the Emergency Committee Chairman of the main opposition party," he pointed out.

Finally, Heo emphasized, "If you think of single mother support policies through the ideology of so-called 'normal families,' then it is better not to implement such policies at all. Eliminating prejudice and discrimination against single mothers is the starting point of single mother support policies."

Jung Hojin, senior spokesperson for the Justice Party, also stated in a briefing that day, "This is a clear case of discrimination and disparagement against people with disabilities, showing the outdated human rights awareness of the leader of the main opposition party. As it is a discriminatory remark by the leader of the main opposition party, Kim must apologize immediately and announce measures to prevent recurrence."

He added, "Although the People Power Party hastily tried to manage the situation by calling it inappropriate, it cannot be dismissed as a mere slip of the tongue. Frequent discriminatory remarks against social minorities such as people with disabilities in politics have been overlooked as slips of the tongue, which is why they keep recurring," he criticized.

Jung said, "Since politics deals with legislation, a human rights awareness that keeps pace with the times is especially required. I hope there will be no more anti-human rights remarks that promote discrimination and hatred."

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Kim Jong-in visited a single-parent and single-mother family welfare facility in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, where he sparked controversy by saying, "There don't seem to be many normal mothers," while listening to the difficulties of single mothers with mental illness and intellectual disabilities.

Kim also said, "Children need to be properly cared for and protected so they can grow up normally, but (some single mothers) are in a very vulnerable mental state, so wouldn't it be difficult for the mothers to provide proper care?"

In response, single mother organizations such as the Korea Single Parent Union demanded an official apology from Kim. The single-parent group issued a statement that day expressing regret over Kim's remark labeling single mothers as abnormal during his visit to a single mother living facility in Seoul and requested an official apology.

They criticized, "At a time when family policies inclusive of family diversity are being demanded, a responsible party leader calling single mothers abnormal discourages single mothers who courageously raise their children despite difficult circumstances. It is also a very concerning remark that could foster social prejudice against single mothers."

Finally, they added, "We urge Kim to immediately apologize for his abnormal remarks that could cause prejudice against single mothers and to take the lead in raising awareness and providing support for single mothers."

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