Park Yong-jin "Publicity Material with Nuance of Supporting People Power Party? Shallow Politics Underestimating Voters"

Park Yong-jin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized on the 1st that his photo was used in the election materials of Park Jin-ung, the People Power Party candidate for Seoul Gangbuk-eul, calling it "shallow politics that underestimates voters."

Appearing on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' Rep. Park said regarding Park Jin-ung's use of his photo in the People Power Party's materials, "They created the materials with a nuance as if I were supporting candidate Park," adding, "I strongly protested, demanded all copies be discarded, and an apology." He further criticized, "Using me and exploiting internal conflicts within the Democratic Party is against political ethics and is shallow politics that underestimates the voters of Gangbuk-eul."

He also spoke about why he joined the campaign support for the April 10 general election despite his failed bid for a third term. He said, "I want to be a small encouragement to our comrades, our candidates, and our party members who are struggling while holding the Democratic Party flag," adding, "The regions where I decided to support the campaign are Ulsan, Daegu, and Gyeongbuk, which correspond to Songpa, Gangnam, and Seocho areas in Seoul. The characteristic of these areas is that when the Democratic Party is doing well, they feel isolated, and when the Democratic Party is struggling, it becomes even harder."

Rep. Park is a prominent figure within the party's anti-Lee Jae-myung faction. He was included in the bottom 10% in the party's elected official evaluation committee, received penalties, and ran twice in the primary for the Seoul Gangbuk-eul constituency but was eliminated, resulting in the failure of his third-term bid.

Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin is appealing for support together with candidate Cho Jae-hee of Songpa Gap to citizens near Olympic Park Station in Songpa-gu, Seoul on March 31. Photo by Yonhap News

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He continued, "Honestly, I felt like I should just wrap my head tightly and lie down in bed groaning," but added, "I also thought it was a courtesy to my supporters. It is also a courtesy to the people who are supporting Park Yong-jin and feel sorry for me, and it is the fulfillment of a promise I made."

Rep. Park is helping Han Min-su, the Democratic Party candidate for Gangbuk-eul, and expressed disappointment over Han’s remarks on a YouTube broadcast implying that "Park did nothing to help." He said, "On the day candidate Jo Su-jin defeated me in the primary, I called her first and suggested meeting, and we met twice to explain the terrain and situation of Gangbuk-eul," adding, "I also gathered our city councilors and district councilors, the key figures in the election, introduced them, and handed over and explained all the data on the pledge book, the regional development projects we were organizing and that I was promoting. Two days later, this person was replaced, and Han Min-su came, and I did the same for him."

He added, "But then, surprisingly, (candidate Han) appeared on a YouTube broadcast and said that I did nothing to help," and said, "I am telling you this to clarify the facts."

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