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The first-term lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Korea are expressing their stance on the defeat in the April 7 by-elections at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 9th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The first-term lawmakers in their 20s and 30s from the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), who issued a "letter of reflection" following the crushing defeat in the April 7 by-elections, are facing fierce criticism from hardline party supporters known as "Chinmun" and "Munppa." On the 11th, these lawmakers responded by saying they are "hurt by the ridicule and sarcasm." Despite their appeals, the criticism continues, sparking further controversy over whether this situation is appropriate.

First-term DPK lawmakers Oh Young-hwan, Lee So-young, Jeon Yong-gi, Jang Kyung-tae, and Jang Cheol-min explained in a statement released that morning, "We are receiving a lot of anger," and added, "Although we anticipated criticism and controversy, we issued the letter of reflection two days ago because diverse introspection and vision proposals are needed within the party." They also appealed, "Please do not divide responsibility between Chinmun and non-Chinmun factions. Those who insist solely on blaming specific individuals or groups should be ashamed."

Earlier, in their statement released on the 9th, they cited the former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's scandal as one of the causes of the by-election defeat. This drew strong backlash from the party's hardline supporters, and in Chinmun supporter communities, they were labeled as the "five first-term traitors" or "first-term clan," with posts accusing them of betraying "political loyalty."

Oh Se-hoon, the newly elected 38th mayor of Seoul, is sharing his first-day impressions at the main building of Seoul City Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 8th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

As the controversy persisted, DPK spokesperson Heo Young said at the National Assembly that day, "This is not a matter of blaming anyone or any faction, but a task we all must acknowledge and solve together," emphasizing, "It is important to prepare for reflection and reform." This statement is interpreted as an attempt to block views suggesting that the April 7 by-election defeat has caused division within the party.

However, despite this stance, protests from hardline supporters continue daily. In particular, the phone numbers of the first-term lawmakers have been shared among DPK supporters, resulting in over 1,000 critical text messages per day. Some lawmakers have reportedly reached a level where they cannot perform their duties at all.

One DPK supporter said, "How dare they mention Cho Kuk, Chinmun, or non-Chinmun? Aren't first-term lawmakers inexperienced in politics? They should be more cautious and properly analyze the causes of the defeat."

Given this situation, criticism is mounting that the opinions of first-term lawmakers are being completely suppressed. Beyond internal party division controversies, there are concerns that this infringes on the conscience of lawmakers. According to Article 114 of the National Assembly Act, lawmakers vote according to their conscience, not bound by their party's will, and under the Constitution (Article 46), lawmakers must prioritize national interests and perform their duties according to their conscience.

However, as the situation continues with harsh criticism effectively urging "resignation from the party" and collective condemnation, some believe that a proper reflection on the April 7 by-election defeat is impossible.

A man in his 40s, Kim, who identified himself as a DPK supporter, said, "A party that cannot accept constructive criticism is denying its own existence as a political party," raising his voice. He added, "Telling people to leave the party over mentions of Chinmun, non-Chinmun, or Cho Kuk means they are setting themselves up for defeat in next year's presidential election."

Meanwhile, the first-term lawmakers who issued the letter of reflection announced plans to engage in discussions with the media and meetings with youth. They stated, "Our letter of reflection, in which we detailed our 'own arrogance, laziness, and lack of courage,' was distorted and sensationalized with omitted essential and detailed content over the past two days," adding, "Seeing this kind of media coverage, we once again feel the need for change in the press."

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