Conflicting Views on 'Time to Apologize' Within the Democratic Party

Representative Song Young-gil Officially Apologizes for Ruling Party's 'Double Standards' Controversies Including Cho Kuk and Park Won-soon

"I Deeply Regret Disappointing the Public and Will Reflect Thoroughly"
Significant Impact Within the Party
Hardline Pro-Moon Figures Defend Cho Kuk
"The Party Should Not Intervene" Backlash
Calls for 'Resignation of Representative Song for Inappropriate Remarks' Flood YouTube Channels

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending a press conference marking one month since his inauguration at the party leader's office in the National Assembly on the 2nd, greeting before the conference./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Chae-eun Koo and Jin-young Jeon] Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, officially apologized for the controversy surrounding former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's children's college admissions. He also expressed apologies for the ruling party's ‘double standards’ controversies, represented by the late former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon's sexual harassment allegations. He stated that ‘self-reflection from the 86 generation is necessary.’ However, since the ‘Cho Kuk incident’ remains a divisive issue within the party, Song’s ‘official apology’ could lead either to a positive outcome of recovering the party’s declining approval ratings or a negative conclusion of internal party strife.

At the ‘National Communication and Listening to Public Opinion Project Report to the People’ event held at the National Assembly on the 2nd, Song said, "Our Democratic Party has disappointed the people. We will thoroughly reflect on this." He also emphasized, "We, who devoted ourselves to the democratization movement and loudly advocated fairness and justice while condemning others, must deeply reflect on whether we have upheld those principles in our own issues and our children’s issues."

Song listed a series of ‘double standards incidents’ including sexual harassment controversies involving former mayors Oh Keo-don and Park Won-soon, the controversy over Cho Kuk’s children’s college admissions, the government senior official’s increase in jeonse deposit controversy, and the LH land speculation scandal, repeatedly expressing apologies to the public and victims. Regarding former Minister Cho, he stated, "The prosecution’s investigation standards for Cho’s family should be applied equally to the family corruption cases of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and other prosecution family corruption cases." On his personal judgment about the matter, he criticized it by referring to the ‘value of fairness.’

He said, "Even if it is not strictly illegal to attend a good university and use good status and connections to mutually provide internships and build resumes like a reciprocal favor system, it causes frustration and disappointment to countless young people who cannot even access such a system." He continued, "The Democratic Party once again apologizes for failing to understand the wounded hearts of the people and youth. We will uphold the values of fairness and justice to ensure a country where opportunities are equal, processes are fair, and outcomes are just." He also pledged to apply strict ethical standards, including expelling party members involved in admissions and employment corruption, real estate speculation, and sexual harassment, including himself and immediate family members, and banning their return to the party until cleared of charges.

This expression of opinion in the form of a ‘reflection letter’ to the public ahead of the presidential election less than a year away is expected to cause considerable ripples within the party. Currently, opinions within the party are sharply divided over the ‘Cho Kuk incident.’ Among the non-mainstream and some presidential candidates, there are concerns about the negative impact of revisiting the ‘Cho Kuk incident’ on the presidential race, while hardline pro-Moon Jae-in (Pro-Moon) figures defend Cho’s memoir publication, saying "The party should not be involved."

Immediately after Song’s remarks, the Democratic Party’s rights members’ bulletin board and YouTube channel were flooded with posts from hardline pro-Moon party members demanding, "Resign Song Young-gil for his outrageous remarks," "Impeach him," and "He is blaming Cho Kuk for the election defeat."

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