"95 Million Elderly Ignored" Kim Eun-kyung Backlash... Opposition Party Soothes Korea Senior Citizens Association

Kim Jong-min "Party Leader, Shouldn't You Do Something?"
Elderly Association, "Anger Over Disrespectful Remarks"... Calls for Apology
Innovation Committee Settles for 'Expression of Regret' Instead of Official Apology

Kim Eun-kyung, the Innovation Committee Chair of the Democratic Party of Korea, faced backlash over her 'elderly disparagement' remarks. Although Chair Kim expressed regret over her comment about 'Yeomyeong proportional voting,' the country's largest senior citizens' organization strongly opposed her, and within the party, there were calls for her resignation. It is reported that Chair Kim will visit the Korea Senior Citizens Association with the Democratic Party's floor leadership in the afternoon.

On the 2nd, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Jong-min stated on his social media (SNS), "Chair Kim Eun-kyung's remarks are an indisputably 'utterly wrong statement,'" adding, "This is not something that can be resolved by merely issuing a statement. She should hold an official press conference and sincerely apologize to the hurt citizens."

Kim Eun-kyung, Chair of the Innovation Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving a greeting at the 2030 Youth Roundtable held at a cafe in Seongdong-gu on the 30th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Lawmaker Kim said, "The Innovation Committee spokesperson even said, 'There is no need to apologize.' This shows a seriously lacking sensitivity to public sentiment," and urged, "Before it reaches an irreversible point, I strongly call for an official apology from Chair Kim Eun-kyung and the Innovation Committee." He continued, "I also request this from Representative Lee Jae-myung," adding, "Criticism and distrust toward the Innovation Committee are growing day by day. As a responsible party leader, shouldn't he do something for the Democratic Party's innovation and future?"

Earlier, on the 30th of last month, Chair Kim sparked controversy by saying at a youth discussion, "Why should those with a short future have a one-on-one vote with young people?" On the 1st, lawmaker Yang Yi introduced Chair Kim's remarks on Facebook, writing, "Who you vote for now determines the future," and "But many of those voting now will not even be alive in that future," further fueling public criticism of Chair Kim's remarks.

In response, the Korea Senior Citizens Association issued a statement demanding an apology from the party and measures to prevent recurrence. The association said, "The 9.5 million elderly generation is outraged by Chair Kim Eun-kyung of the Democratic Party Innovation Committee's remarks that ignore the constitutionally guaranteed suffrage rights by suggesting 'proportional voting according to average remaining life expectancy,'" and added, "'If Chair Kim Eun-kyung, the subject of the 'elderly disparagement,' and lawmaker Yang Yi-won-young do not come forward to apologize directly, we will take actions to condemn the Democratic Party.'"

As the situation worsened, the Democratic Party leadership moved to contain the issue. Democratic Party floor leader Park Kwang-on is scheduled to visit the Korea Senior Citizens Association in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, with Chair Kim in the evening.

Earlier that day, at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, Floor Leader Park said, "Chair Kim has expressed her intention to apologize for her remarks related to the elderly," emphasizing, "The Democratic Party will refrain from language and behavior that hurt specific generations." He also urged caution, saying, "The Democratic Party will avoid fostering generational conflicts or hurting specific generations and will humbly listen to and consider the voices of all citizens."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Innovation Committee did not issue any particular response to these demands. Chair Kim said at a 'Dialogue with Incheon Citizens' held at the Incheon City Party Office the previous afternoon, "There may have been room for misunderstanding, and I hope the anger over that part is resolved," adding, "If anyone is hurt, I regret that." As the Innovation Committee refused to issue an official apology, controversy grew both inside and outside the party, prompting her to clarify and express 'regret.'

However, the People Power Party continued its relentless offensive over Chair Kim's elderly disparagement controversy. On the same day, People Power Party floor leader Yoon Jae-ok, at a press briefing held at the National Assembly, fiercely criticized Chair Kim Eun-kyung's remarks and lawmaker Yang Yi-won-young's defense, saying, "Has the Democratic Party decided to become a party that disparages the elderly? The parade of elder disparagement and outrageous remarks continues day after day."

Floor Leader Yoon said, "The Democratic Party's disparaging remarks about the elderly are not new, but it has never been this shameless," and criticized, "In the past, they at least apologized, but now, without any apology and with a brazen attitude, it seems this is not a mistake but the Democratic Party's true intention, thinking it's acceptable to belittle the elderly because they are supporters of the People Power Party."

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