The Democratic Party and Kim Eun-kyung Under Crossfire for 'Elderly Disparagement'... "Innovation Committee Must Be Disbanded" (Summary)

Kim Eun-kyung, Innovation Committee Chair, on "Future Short Generation"
Kim Ki-hyun: "The Icing on the Cake of Elderly Disparagement DNA"
Leadership: "Conflictual Worldview" · "Modern-day Goryeojang"

The People Power Party launched a barrage of criticism against Kim Eun-kyung, the Innovation Committee Chair of the Democratic Party, over her 'elderly disparagement' controversy, mentioning past remarks by Democratic Party figures and stating that "the Innovation Committee should disband itself."

On the 1st, Kim Gi-hyeon, leader of the People Power Party, criticized on his Facebook, saying, "Chairman Kim's remark, 'Why should those with a short future have a one-on-one vote with young people?' is the finishing touch on the Democratic Party's DNA of elder disregard and disparagement."

Kim added, "The Democratic Party's hostile perception and derogatory remarks toward the elderly generation boast a truly long-standing tradition," elaborating, "Recently, during last year's local elections, there was the case of Representative Yoon Ho-jung, and further back, before the 17th general election in 2004, there was the outrageous remark by Jeong Dong-young, then chairman of the Uri Party, saying, 'It's okay if those in their 60s and 70s don't vote. They can rest at home.'"

Last year, Representative Yoon sparked controversy by saying, a day before the June 1 local elections, during a campaign rally supporting Song Ki-yoon, the People Power Party candidate for Chungbuk Jeungpyeong County, "Since you are over seventy, it might be difficult to learn new things. I hope you continue what you have been doing."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim emphasized, "Seeing that the Democratic Party appointed someone with such a vulgar perception as the Innovation Committee Chair, it is easy to guess what they are trying to do," adding, "They pretend to innovate while deceiving people, but in reality, the Democratic Party is regressing against progress." He questioned, "Chairman Kim herself is the subject of innovation and disciplinary expulsion, so who does she intend to innovate and discipline?"

He then urged the disbandment of the Innovation Committee. He said, "The Democratic Party's Innovation Committee members, including Chairman Kim, should apologize to the public, resign from all positions, and at the very least, disband the Innovation Committee themselves."

Furthermore, he addressed Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, stating, "It is only right that Leader Lee takes collective responsibility for appointing such an incompetent person as the Innovation Committee Chair," and requested, "Leader Lee should sincerely apologize to the public and declare the disbandment of the Innovation Committee."

Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader of the People Power Party, also raised issues with Chairman Kim's remarks during the morning floor strategy meeting. He pointed out, "Since the Uri Party era in 2004, the Democratic Party has a long history of unmentionable elder disparagement remarks, and what Chairman Kim needs to innovate is this conflicting worldview."

He continued, "The moment you contrast generations by saying those with a long future and those with a short future, the innocent idea of a son quickly turns into a highly political claim," and criticized in detail, "Chairman Kim's response that the one-person-one-vote principle makes it difficult to realize democracy is enough to cause misunderstanding that the one-person-one-vote principle is irrational."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Secretary-General Lee Cheol-gyu also called Chairman Kim's remarks a "modern-day Goryeojang," saying, "The elders are the generation that raised the country from the ruins of war through the Miracle on the Han River and made today's Republic of Korea possible. Not only disparaging them but also making terrible remarks comparable to telling them to stay at home is horrifying."

Earlier, on the 30th of last month, Chairman Kim referred to a conversation with his son during a roundtable with 2030 youth, saying, "My son's idea when he was in middle school was, 'Why do older people worry about our future? Voting should be proportional to one's age and remaining lifespan,'" adding, "That idea is very rational." He explained, "In a democracy, one person, one vote is the reality, but it's true that our future is much longer, so why should those with a short future have a one-to-one vote?"

As controversy over the remarks continued, Chairman Kim issued a statement the day before, saying, "I only introduced an idea my son had when he was in middle school to encourage youth political participation, and I never denied the fundamental democratic principle of 'one person, one vote,'" and rebutted, "Distorting the middle schooler's idea I cited as an example and framing my remarks as elder disparagement is an old-fashioned, divisive tactic that views the issue politically."

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