Jeong Sye-gyun's 'Jangyuyuseo' Remark Draws Reactions from Ruling Party: "Surprised", "Is This a Kkondae Party?"

Concerns About Being Labeled a "Kkondae Party"
Jung Sye-kyun Explains, "It's About Overcoming Age Hierarchy" After Criticism

Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun's remark that "our country has a Jang-yu-yu-seo (長幼有序) culture" in relation to the People Power Party's leadership race has drawn criticism from within the ruling party as well.

On the 25th, Park Yong-jin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, wrote on Facebook, "I was surprised by former Prime Minister Chung's words," and questioned, "How did our Democratic Party, which is a party of the 40s generation, come to be a party that talks about Jang-yu-yu-seo?"

He continued, "At a time when we should encourage challenges and fresh winds from young people, using words like Jang-yu-yu-seo and experience to make young people hesitate to challenge is worrisome. In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, when innovation is needed, these words are completely inappropriate for South Korea," he criticized.

Park expressed concern, saying, "In the recent by-elections, the Democratic Party analyzed that the reason for defeat was failing to win the hearts of young people," and added, "I am worried that we might be stigmatized as a party that rejects change, a 'kkondae' party."

Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

Kim Nam-guk, also from the same party, wrote on Facebook, "The People Power Party is trying to shed its old party image by creating the 'Lee Jun-seok storm.' Saying that our country has a Jang-yu-yu-seo culture in response could make our Democratic Party appear as a 'kkondae party' closed off to young people," expressing concern.

He added, "There must be a space within our Democratic Party where young people who will think about the future of South Korea and lead the party can come in and comfortably speak and play," and "The Democratic Party must also change its party constitution and regulations, as well as its internal culture, so that young people can freely challenge and bring fresh winds."

Earlier, former Prime Minister Chung appeared on TBS Radio's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' and questioned the leadership of Lee Jun-seok, a former Supreme Council member in his 30s who is performing well in the People Power Party leadership race, saying, "Managing a presidential election is not that simple; can it be done without experience?"

He added, "Moreover, there is the special culture of Jang-yu-yu-seo in our country. In the past, there was a 30-something party leader in the UK, but I recall that party failed to seize power and did not achieve great results," implying that young politicians' challenges for party leadership might be somewhat unreasonable.

As criticism of his Jang-yu-yu-seo remarks spread, former Prime Minister Chung clarified, "The fact that a young candidate is gaining attention as a party leader is a big change, and such change is positive. My intention was that we need to overcome the lingering Jang-yu-yu-seo culture within the party."

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