Kim Eun-kyung Only Expresses 'Regret'... Calls for a 'Proper Apology' Even Within the Party

Kim Eun-kyung, Chair of the Democratic Party's Innovation Committee, sparked a controversy over 'elderly disparagement' after saying at a roundtable, "Why should those with a short future vote one-on-one?" However, the party only expressed regret instead of issuing a formal apology, prompting voices within the party demanding a "proper apology." This appears to be due to doubts about the Innovation Committee's credibility following Kim's remarks and the emergence of calls for "Lee Jae-myung's responsibility."

On the 2nd, Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin said on CBS's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show," "As a member of the Democratic Party, I sincerely apologize for the controversy caused by this incident," and urged Chair Kim to "apologize more clearly."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, at a roundtable with young people in their 20s and 30s, Kim mentioned that her adult son, when he was in middle school, suggested, "Voting should be proportional from one's own age to the remaining years of life, and from the mother's age to the remaining years of life." She said, "Isn't that quite reasonable?" This was perceived as agreeing with her son's opinion, sparking the 'elderly disparagement' controversy.

The Innovation Committee explained that Kim did not agree with her son's opinion but was merely acknowledging "that such a thought exists." However, since Kim only expressed regret without an apology, the controversy has not easily subsided. Democratic Party lawmaker Yang Yi-won-young defended Kim by saying, "Many of those voting now will not even be alive in that future," which further intensified the controversy.

Jeong Seong-ho, a pro-Lee Jae-myung faction leader, also said on KBS's "Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs" that "It should be recognized that there was clearly room for misunderstanding in quoting her child," adding, "The Innovation Committee also acknowledges that this was a wrong remark. It would be best to conclude and move on with this understanding." He criticized Yang Yi-won-young's statement as a "very inappropriate remark."

Lawmaker Park Ju-min also said on SBS's "Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show," "It was a statement that should not have been made," and pointed out, "Since she is not a professional politician, she should be more careful with her remarks."

Kim Eun-kyung, Chair of the Innovation Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, is holding a press briefing at the National Assembly on the 12th, explaining the future direction of the Innovation Committee's activities. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Despite the controversy over Kim's remarks, the Innovation Committee stated that "there is no need to apologize," so the controversy has not easily died down. Although Kim expressed regret belatedly, it falls short of being considered an apology. At a "Dialogue with Incheon Citizens" held the previous evening at the Incheon City Party Office, Kim said, "If anyone was hurt by that, I regret it," but maintained her stance, saying, "People are cutting out parts and connecting the context strangely, saying it was elderly disparagement, but I had no such intention at all."

The demand within the party for a proper apology from Chair Kim seems closely related not only to the issue of the Innovation Committee's credibility but also to the emergence of "Lee Jae-myung's responsibility." On the previous day, Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, raised his voice on social media (SNS), saying, "Lee, who appointed such an incompetent person as Innovation Committee Chair, must bear collective responsibility. He should sincerely apologize to the public and declare the dissolution of the Innovation Committee."

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