Park Yong-jin on Opposition Party Turmoil: "Age-Based Politics Is the Problem... Supporting Lee Jun-seok"

"The order chosen by party members should come first to Representative Lee Jun-seok, right?"
"Our society really has a strange seniority system"

Park Yong-jin, Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Park Yongjin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Lee Junseok, the leader of the People Power Party, for stepping down from his position in the party’s election campaign committee amid internal conflicts, saying, "It’s like watching a fire across the river, but the attitude of trying to do politics based on age is the problem."

On the 22nd, Park wrote on his Facebook, "Although this is a story about another party’s turmoil, I want to make one thing clear. I firmly oppose the outdated attitude of trying to shake the clarity of the party leader’s or any position’s role with something like age, for the future of our politics," he said.

In an interview with CBS Radio’s 'Hanpanseungbu' the day before, Park also said, "I think Leader Lee spoke his mind," adding, "Even after enduring such humiliation, if you just sit still, that’s how it is. Regarding this incident, I support Leader Lee."

Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, held a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 21st and announced, "I will step down from all positions within the campaign committee." / Photo by Yonhap News

Park also pointed out remarks made earlier by Supreme Council Member Cho, who said, "I am several years older than Leader Lee, and as you get older, you should gain more wisdom, but I feel sorry." Park said, "Age may be higher for him personally, but isn’t the order of party positions and those elected by party members supposed to take precedence with Leader Lee?" He criticized, "Leader Lee naturally has greater responsibility and role, but do you see it that way just because of age? I’m really disappointed."

He then condemned it as "a truly serious and strange seniority system and elder-first principle in our society."

Park emphasized, "Isn’t it a violation of the rights granted by party members to make such absurd claims? Leader Lee spoke up and made accurate points. Although this may become an internal struggle within that party, the responsibility given by party members and the public should not be belittled just because someone is younger. This must not be overlooked."

Meanwhile, on the 21st, Supreme Council Member Cho apologized regarding Lee’s announcement at a National Assembly press conference about resigning from his election campaign committee position, saying, "I am several years older. As you get older, you should have more wisdom, but regardless of the reason, I feel truly sorry."

On the afternoon of the 21st, Sujin Jo, a member of the People Power Party, came out without meeting Leader Joon-seok Lee at the party leader's office in the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, and responded to questions from the press. / Photo by Yonhap News

At a meeting with reporters at the National Assembly that day, he said, "I feel sorry to the people and party members who long for a regime change," adding, "(Regarding his position) I have never been greedy for the seat."

Regarding why he could not apologize to Leader Lee face-to-face, he explained, "Yesterday, I requested a meeting with the head of an internet media outlet and a reporter whom Leader Lee mentioned, and I had various meetings and the interview, so I couldn’t make time before 3 p.m.," adding, "I arrived at 3 p.m. and waited for an hour. I earnestly conveyed my intentions, but the timing didn’t work out."

He added, "I hope Leader Lee will reconsider many things and carefully reflect for the sake of the public’s strong desire for regime change."

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