'Young Politician Fever' and 'Jangyuyuseo' Remarks Controversy... Opposite Paths Taken by Ruling and Opposition Parties

People Power Party Sparking a 'New Wave'
Even Within the Party: "Enviable, Lively, and Dynamic"
Experts Say "The Idea of Political Seniority Is Nonsense"

Former People Power Party Supreme Council member Lee Jun-seok, who ran in the party leader election, is speaking at the 1st party convention held on the 25th at Nurikkum Square in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] Amid the active participation of young politicians in the People Power Party's leadership race, voices of criticism have poured in from both ruling and opposition parties regarding former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun's remark on 'Jang-yu-yu-seo' (seniority-based respect).

Recently, within the People Power Party, emerging politicians have been actively engaging in the leadership contest, creating a lively arena for debate, whereas the Democratic Party has been criticized for failing to raise noticeable calls for reform even after the crushing defeat in the April 7 by-elections.

On the 25th, former Prime Minister Chung appeared on TBS Radio's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' and commented on former Supreme Council member Lee's strong performance in the People Power Party leadership race, saying, "Managing a presidential election is not that simple; can it be done without experience?" He further sparked controversy by stating, "There is also the special culture of our country called Jang-yu-yu-seo."

He continued, "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 significant results," casting doubt on the leadership of young politicians.

This prompted a flood of criticism in political circles, labeling it a "typical old-fashioned remark." People Power Party lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung criticized on his Facebook, "In the 21st century, the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, in democratic South Korea's elections, is the Democratic Party out of their mind to bring up the Three Bonds and Five Relationships established in 2nd century BC Han Dynasty China?"

He added, "As People Power Party's Lee Jun-seok creates a 2030 youth storm, chili powder is flying from all directions. The highlight among them is former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun's 'Jang-yu-yu-seo' remark," sarcastically noting, "(If first-term female candidate Kim Eun-hye had topped the People Power Party leadership race polls,) they would have brought up 'Bubu-yubyeol' (distinct roles of husband and wife) to argue that husbands and wives have different duties."

Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min also lashed out at former Prime Minister Chung, calling him "an old-fashioned elder meddling rudely in another party's election," and said, "That's why he is being ignored by the 2030 generation."

Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun is holding a press conference during his visit to the Gyeongnam Provincial Council on the 24th. Photo by Yonhap News

Criticism toward former Prime Minister Chung also emerged within the Democratic Party. Lawmaker Park Yong-jin expressed concern on Facebook, saying, "I was shocked by former Prime Minister Chung's words. How did our Democratic Party, which is a party of the 40s generation, become a party that talks about Jang-yu-yu-seo?" He added, "I worry it might be stigmatized as a party that rejects change, an old-fashioned party."

There have been previous instances of Democratic Party lawmakers being criticized as "old-fashioned" in the National Assembly. On the 13th, during the process of approving then Prime Minister nominee Kim Boo-kyum, Democratic Party lawmaker Moon Jung-bok shouted at Justice Party's 20-something first-term lawmaker Ryu Ho-jeong, calling her "Hey," "You," and yelling, "How dare you raise your voice now," causing controversy.

The negative image of the Democratic Party was also clearly reflected in recent opinion polls. According to survey results disclosed by Democratic Party Strategy Planning Committee Chairman Song Gap-seok at a party meeting, the personified image of the Democratic Party was "an autocratic, all talk and no action, two-faced, incompetent man in his 40s to 50s."

Respondents said about the Democratic Party, "They conducted an impeachment trial, but I wonder if Democratic Party officials were properly punished when they were at fault," "There is a double standard," and "They seem to try, but lack capability."

On the other hand, the image of the People Power Party improved compared to last year's general election. The personified image of the People Power Party was "a man in his late 50s to 70s who values money and power and has elitism," which was not very positive, but positive images such as "It feels like they are rebuilding" and "They have the strong momentum of a bulldozer" were also formed.

On the 13th, during the plenary session of the National Assembly, just before the vote on the appointment of then Prime Minister nominee Kim Boo-kyum, Moon Jung-bok, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (right), protested against Bae Jin-gyo, the floor leader of the Justice Party, for his parliamentary procedure remarks, and Ryu Ho-jeong, a member of the Justice Party (left), responded to Moon. / Photo by Yonhap News

As a result, even within the Democratic Party, there were reactions expressing "envy of the People Power Party." In the past, the People Power Party was strongly perceived as a "conservative party," but recently, the Democratic Party has been criticized for showing a dogmatic attitude toward emerging forces.

On the 26th, lawmaker Jeon Jae-soo said in an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' regarding former Supreme Council member Lee's leading position in various leadership polls, "Honestly, I am very envious. It's very dynamic. Somehow, it is lively and refreshing, a joy to watch."

He added, "On the other hand, it is a bit painful," saying, "It is dynamic, lively, and refreshing, but that used to be our Democratic Party's trademark until recently. I wonder when that moved over there (to the People Power Party)."

Experts predict that the political sphere has entered a full-fledged generational change period, which will influence the next presidential election.

Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon said, "Politics is not done by age order. Former Presidents Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung started politics in their 20s, and French President Macron became head of state at a very young age," and added, "The Democratic Party was a party that advocated the 40s generation theory, but recently, the term 'progressive old-fashioned' has been used for the Democratic Party. The 'Jang-yu-yu-seo' remark is very inappropriate."

He continued, "Both the Democratic Party and the People Power Party need generational change, and recently, it seems the People Power Party is leading the wave of generational change," adding, "The Democratic Party should respond rather than be surprised. How the generational change proceeds will also affect the next presidential election."

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