Yoon: Use of "Jangae-u" Expression Exposes Ruling Party's Superior Attitude and Patronizing View Toward Disabled People

Jeonyonggi "'If the language of discrimination is repeated, it should never be dismissed as a mere mistake'"
Oh Hyun-joo "Truly embarrassing as the presidential candidate of the main opposition party"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is speaking at the departure ceremony of the nationwide relay policy tour "Jangmun Hyundap (The Answer to Disability Issues Lies in the Field)" held by the Central Election Committee's Disability Welfare Support Headquarters in front of the National Assembly main building in Yeouido, Seoul on the 13th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, faced fierce criticism from the ruling coalition for using the term 'Jangae-u' (disabled friends) at an event held by the campaign committee's Disability Welfare Support Headquarters.

On the morning of the 13th, at the 'Jangmunhyeondap (The answer to disability issues lies in the field)' launch ceremony held by the campaign committee's Disability Welfare Support Headquarters at the National Assembly, Candidate Yoon said, "Welfare needs vary for each person due to different difficult circumstances, so it must be tailored individually." He added, "Please listen carefully to the circumstances of each disabled friend working with Representative Lee Jong-sung, and convey them to the campaign committee, so they stay healthy and avoid catching colds in the cold weather."

In response, Representative Jeon Yong-gi, the spokesperson for the Democratic Party's campaign committee, pointed out on his Facebook post that day, "Candidate Yoon, who promised to do his best to prevent discrimination against people with disabilities, is hurting them with 'discriminatory language.'"

He stated, "Today (the 13th), Candidate Yoon used the term 'Jangae-u' in front of people with disabilities. Just five days after receiving public criticism for using the term 'normal people' to refer to non-disabled individuals on the 8th, he made another outrageous remark that stabbed the hearts of people with disabilities and their families."

He continued, "Candidate Yoon's derogatory remarks toward people with disabilities should not be dismissed as a one-time slip of the tongue. If 'discriminatory language' is repeated, it should never be excused as a mere mistake."

He added, "The ultimate goal of disability policy is to ensure that people with disabilities live without discrimination as equal individuals and members of society. We urge Candidate Yoon to stop discrimination."

Representative Jeon also said, "I return to Candidate Yoon the words that former Representative Yoon Hee-sook said today about (Democratic Party candidate) Lee Jae-myung: 'I worry whether he really has amnesia or, as rumors say, a dual personality.'"

Oh Hyun-joo, spokesperson for the Justice Party, also directly criticized in a written briefing that day, "The People Power Party should correct the candidate's awareness before walking with the vulnerable."

He said, "Candidate Yoon used the term 'Jangae-u' twice, blatantly revealing a sense of superiority and a patronizing view toward people with disabilities," calling it "truly embarrassing for the presidential candidate of the main opposition party."

He further criticized, "Especially since Candidate Yoon, a former Prosecutor General, does not properly use the legal term 'people with disabilities,' which clearly shows his usual attitude toward socially vulnerable groups. Even if the remarks contain good intentions and content, speaking with a superior attitude toward the listeners inevitably diminishes the overall meaning of the statement."

He urged, "We hope Candidate Yoon sincerely and humbly apologizes to people with disabilities this time."

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