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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Opposition Leader Defends Party's '90-Degree Bow' Amid Criticism

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • South Korean opposition leader Kim Min-seok defended a proposed 90-degree bow for party members as a gesture of respect, after criticism that it was excessive.
  • Kim explained the bow was initially intended as a 45-degree formal greeting, but the collective deep bow by many members appeared exaggerated in photos.
  • The ruling party criticized the gesture, urging the opposition to first apologize for policies that have harmed citizens.

A proposal by South Korean opposition leader Kim Min-seok for party members to perform a 90-degree bow to the public has sparked debate, with some deeming the gesture excessive. Kim, leader of the Democratic Party, addressed the criticism by suggesting the bow was meant as a profound expression of respect, acknowledging that the collective deep bow might have appeared exaggerated in photographs.

The party's language is not words but pictures.

— Kim Nam-jun, Democratic Party Public Relations ChairmanExplaining the rationale behind using visual gestures to convey the party's message.

Kim explained that the initial suggestion from party official Kim Nam-jun was for a 45-degree formal greeting, emphasizing that "the party's language is not words but pictures." The idea was to begin all party events with a 90-degree bow as a sign of respect for the nation's citizens, particularly in the wake of concerns raised by party members and the public during the recent party convention. Kim added that the party would proceed "swiftly, but stably and reliably" going forward.

However, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) sharply criticized the Democratic Party's gesture. PPP spokesperson Cho Yong-sul argued that the performance lacked genuine humility towards the public, instead presenting a "shameful scene" of self-directed bowing. He urged the opposition party to first reflect on and apologize for policies that have negatively impacted citizens' lives before engaging in such symbolic acts.

The bow proposed by Chairman Kim Nam-jun was originally a formal greeting at a 45-degree angle. When everyone bowed deeply together, it seemed excessive.

— Kim Min-seok, Democratic Party LeaderClarifying the intended nature of the bow and the reasons for its perceived exaggeration.

The controversy highlights the differing interpretations of political gestures and the ongoing political tensions in South Korea. While the Democratic Party framed the bow as a sincere apology and commitment, the PPP viewed it as a superficial performance that failed to address substantive policy issues.

The reason the public finds this performance uncomfortable is that the humility towards the people has disappeared, leaving only a shameful scene of them bowing to each other.

— Cho Yong-sul, People Power Party SpokespersonCriticizing the Democratic Party's 90-degree bow gesture.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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