Korean Senior Citizens Association: "Kim Eun-kyung's Remarks Are Elder Abuse... Launching Protest Against Democratic Party"

Korean Senior Citizens Association Urges Apology from Democratic Party for Elder Disparagement

The Korea Senior Citizens Association (Senior Association) has demanded an official apology and measures to prevent recurrence from the Democratic Party of Korea’s Innovation Committee Chair Kim Eun-kyung, who sparked controversy over 'elderly disparagement' by saying, "Why should people with a short future have the same one-to-one voting rights?"

On the 2nd, the Senior Association issued a statement saying, "The 9.5 million elderly generation is outraged by Kim Eun-kyung, the Democratic Party Innovation Committee Chair’s remark that 'voting should be proportional to the average remaining life expectancy,' which disregards the constitutionally guaranteed suffrage rights." The Senior Association is a corporation aiming to promote the rights and welfare of the elderly and contribute to social development.

Democratic Party of Korea Innovation Committee Chair Kim Eun-kyung [Photo by Yonhap News]

On the same day at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building, Kim Ho-il, president of the Senior Association, said, "If Kim Eun-kyung, the person responsible for the 'elderly disparagement,' and Representative Yang Yi-won-young do not come forward to apologize in person, we will take actions to condemn the Democratic Party," adding, "We are considering using the nationwide senior organization and protesting at the Democratic Party headquarters."

The Senior Association also pointed out that Representative Yang Yi-won-young’s remarks, agreeing with Kim’s statement and describing some voters as 'people who will not even be alive in the future,' constitute "elderly disparagement."

The Senior Association criticized, "Such disparaging remarks against the elderly are nothing less than abuse toward the elderly generation who brought about the Miracle on the Han River and laid the foundation for today’s world’s 10th largest economy," and added, "We cannot help but feel disheartened, wondering if the Democratic Party is a party with an incurable habit of repeating elderly disparagement remarks."

The Senior Association urged, "If the Democratic Party wants to gain the support of the elderly generation, it must propose welfare policies for the elderly generation, which is left neglected with the highest elderly poverty rate and suicide rate among OECD member countries."

They also added, "We ask Kim Eun-kyung, Innovation Committee Chair, Representative Yang Yi-won-young, and the Democratic Party leader to visit the Korea Senior Citizens Association to apologize and promise to prevent recurrence."

Commissioner Yang Iwonyoung [Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@]

On the 31st of last month, Kim said at a '20s and 30s Generation Youth Roundtable' held in Seongdong-gu, Seoul the previous day, "My 22-year-old second son asked me when he was in either the first or second year of middle school, 'Why do old people decide our future?'" and added, "In a democratic country, one person, one vote is a reality that is difficult but correct. Why should people with a short future have one-to-one voting rights?"

After being embroiled in controversy over elderly disparagement, Representative Yang fueled the controversy by posting on Facebook on the 1st, "(Kim’s remarks) are correct," and said, "Who you vote for now determines the future. But many of those voting now will not even be alive in that future."

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