"Can't Even Say 'Daekkaemun'?" vs "Resign Immediately" After Song Young-gil's Remarks [Han Seung-gon's Political Notebook]

Song Young-gil's Remark "If Hardcore Moon Supporters Say They'd Rather Vote Opposition, Moon Can't Be Protected" Sparks Controversy
Chung Sye-kyun: "Hard to Believe What I Hear and See... Fairness, Identity, and Prudence Are Vital for Party Management"
Hardline Pro-Moon Factions Erupt with Complaints: "Resign, Representative Song Young-gil!"

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Kwanhun Debate held at the Seoul Press Center on the morning of the 5th and responding to questions. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "The party leader shouldn't say that!", "Then what should he say!"

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, sparked controversy within the party on the 6th by openly mentioning 'Daeggae-moon' (a derogatory term referring to the hardcore pro-Moon Jae-in faction, literally meaning 'even if the head breaks, Moon Jae-in') in relation to the anti-Lee Jae-myung sentiment within the party. Immediate fierce backlash erupted from the core Democratic Party supporters, mainly pro-Roh and pro-Moon factions, demanding "Leader Song resign."

The problematic 'Daeggae-moon' remark was made during a Kwanhun Club invitation debate held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 5th. On that day, Song referred to the 2007 presidential election when former President Lee Myung-bak was elected, saying, "At the end of former President Roh Moo-hyun's term, Jeong Dong-young was selected as the candidate of the then United Democratic Party (now the Democratic Party), but it is true that some pro-Roh factions said 'It would be better if Lee Myung-bak wins than Jeong Dong-young.'" He added, "Lee Myung-bak won by an overwhelming margin of 5 million votes, and Jeong Dong-young lost. What was the result? A tragic situation occurred where former President Roh passed away due to thorough prosecutorial retaliation."

He continued, "Those who claim to protect President Moon Jae-in, so-called 'Daeggae-moon,' who say 'some can win, some cannot,' or 'if a certain person wins, I'd rather vote for the opposition,' must clearly realize that with such complacent thinking, they cannot protect or make President Moon successful," directly criticizing the hardcore pro-Moon faction.

The term 'Daeggae-moon' mentioned by Leader Song was used during the 19th presidential election to describe the hardcore and extreme supporters of President Moon. It means supporting President Moon under any circumstances. However, it also carries another meaning as a 'blind supporter,' often regarded as a hateful expression toward some fanatical supporters. The fact that the leader of a public party publicly mentioned this kind of slang, which carries both positive and negative connotations, has led to accusations among hardcore supporters that it was sarcastic or mocking.

Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 5th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Immediately after Leader Song's remarks were reported, hardcore party members criticized on the Democratic Party's rights members' bulletin board, saying, "He threatened to endanger President Moon Jae-in and even insulted Moon supporters by using the term 'Daeggae-moon'." Another member harshly condemned, "Isn't he trying to get Lee Jae-myung elected? Is this something a party leader should do?"

A man in his 40s, Kim, who identified himself as a supporter of the Democratic Party, said, "I believe the party leader can say whatever he wants," but added, "The problem is that this was said publicly, especially during a major election like the presidential election. Using the term 'Daeggae-moon' itself is a gaffe that can cause controversy." He further said, "There are calls within the party for Leader Song to resign, which I understand."

On the other hand, there are opposing views. Although 'Daeggae-moon' can be considered a political slang, it reflects an actual social phenomenon and merely points it out. Park, a 30-year-old office worker, said, "Can't we even say 'Daeggae-moon'? This situation itself shows how closed and solemn the Democratic Party is."

Meanwhile, the presidential candidate camps strongly opposed Leader Song's 'Daeggae-moon' remarks. Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun wrote on his Facebook, "Leader Song used the term 'Daeggae-moon,' which is being misused to insult party supporters in a public setting," and demanded, "Shouldn't he apologize immediately regardless of the reason, instead of damaging party unity under the pretext of party integration?"

He added, "It's unbelievable that he made a biased statement as if a specific candidate had already been confirmed when the primary just started," and said, "Fairness, identity, and prudence are the lifeblood of party management. This is deeply concerning. Where on earth is he trying to lead the party? How does he plan to manage this?" delivering a direct blow to Leader Song.

As the controversy grew, Leader Song met with the leadership of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions the day before and later told reporters, "The overall intention of my remarks was that we should all become one. It means not to exclude anyone," and explained, "I am neutral regardless of who wins and respect the candidates."

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