Lee Jun-seok "Is Oh Se-hoon a 'child' voter who didn't give food? Highest approval rating among people in their 20s... Let him be scolded more"

On the morning of the 25th, the official start day of the election campaign for the April 7 by-election, Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul mayor, raised hands together with former People Power Party Supreme Council member Lee Jun-seok and Song Ju-beom, chairman of the party members' council operations committee, after finishing a campaign speech in front of Yujin Shopping Center in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] On the 26th, former People Power Party Supreme Council member Lee Jun-seok criticized Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party of Korea's Seoul mayoral candidate, for her remark that his low support among people in their 20s was due to a "lack of historical experience," saying, "Let her be scolded more."

On the 26th, Lee posted on his social media, "Over there (Democratic Party), they say, 'The elementary school kids who didn't get meals from Oh Se-hoon have become voters. Be afraid,' but that hypothesis has collapsed," adding, "After verification, it turns out that people in their 20s have become voters and are supporting Oh Se-hoon the most strongly. Then they say the 20s are immature or have low historical experience. Let her be scolded more."

The former Supreme Council member criticized Park candidate's remarks, which sparked controversy over 'disparaging people in their 20s,' saying, "Let them get scolded more." / Photo by former Supreme Council member's SNS capture

Earlier that day, Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party of Korea's Seoul mayoral candidate, sparked controversy by stating that her low support among people in their 20s in recent polls was because "people in their 20s have less experience with past history compared to those in their 40s and 50s."

The People Power Party criticized Park's remark as "youth disparagement."

Park Young-sun, the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Seoul mayor, is appealing for support from the campaign vehicle during a focused rally held in front of Hyundai Department Store in Sinchon, Seoul, on the 26th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Hwang Gyu-hwan, the standing deputy spokesperson of the People Power Party's Central Election Committee, said in a statement, "Apologize immediately and never mention 'youth' again," adding, "Park has copied the bad habit of this administration that says, 'If things go well, it's my credit; if not, it's someone else's fault.' Reflecting on oneself first when support drops is a basic principle of politics and common sense. Yet Park blamed the low support among people in their 20s on 'historical experience.'"

He continued, "The Cho Kuk incident, Incheon International Airport Corporation incident, sexual misconduct by former mayors Park Won-soon and Oh Keo-don, the Yoon Mee-hyang case, and the LH scandal. These countless arrogance, hypocrisy, unfairness, and injustice of this administration are precisely why young people have turned their backs on the Moon Jae-in administration, the Democratic Party, and Park herself. Does she really not understand this?"

He further stated, "All those responsible for these incidents are none other than the Democratic Party's 586 generation, who are so immersed in historical superiority. They stay silent when supported but disparage once turned away. This face-blindness is tiresome."

Amid the controversy, Park explained, "My intention was distorted."

In a JTBC Newsroom interview on the 26th, Park said, "A young person in their 20s told me, 'The opposition party calls President Moon Jae-in a dictator, but we didn't experience the Jeon Du-hwan era, so it's hard to compare.' I was trying to convey that, but it seems to have been distorted and edited."

She added, "Whatever the reason, if anyone was hurt, I should do better."

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