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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Senior Democrats urge restraint amid heated leadership race and use of insults

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Senior members of the Democratic Party are expressing concern over the intensifying competition and use of derogatory nicknames ahead of the August leadership election.
  • Lawmakers are urging candidates to refrain from excessive competition, warning that the spread of insults and mockery harms party unity and democracy.
  • The use of specific derogatory terms targeting potential candidates like Jeong Cheong-rae and Kim Min-seok has drawn particular criticism for crossing a dangerous line.

As the Democratic Party approaches its August 17 leadership election, senior lawmakers are voicing growing concerns about the escalating internal competition and the use of derogatory nicknames. These senior members are urging a more restrained approach to the contest, warning that the current trajectory could damage the party's unity and the principles of democracy.

The spread of inflammatory nicknames that belittle opposing camps, such as 'Munjo-teol-lae-yu' and 'Hangang-saet-ddong-dwae-ju-gil,' is causing displeasure. Nicknames are the enemy of democracy.

— Nam In-soonNam In-soon, Vice Speaker of the National Assembly, criticized the use of derogatory terms in the party's leadership race.

Nam In-soon, a four-term representative and Vice Speaker of the National Assembly, took to Facebook to condemn the spread of inflammatory nicknames like 'Munjo-teol-lae-yu' and 'Hangang-saet-ddong-dwae-ju-gil.' She described these terms as "enemies of democracy" that "sicken democracy and harm party unity." Nam emphasized that the election should be a platform for discussing visions and policies, promoting integration and progress rather than division and conflict.

We must break the structure where party leader candidates and supreme council candidates fight in pairs. Line-forming creates factions and ultimately shakes the foundation of party democracy, including nominations.

— Lee Kwang-jaeLee Kwang-jae, a senior lawmaker, expressed concern about the factional dynamics within the party.

Lee Kwang-jae, another four-term representative, expressed concern about the structure of the competition, where candidates for party leader and supreme council are paired against each other. He warned that this "line-forming" creates factions and could eventually undermine the party's nomination process, which is fundamental to party democracy. Park Ji-won, a five-term representative, questioned the necessity of such intense conflict with four years remaining in the presidential term and no elections for the next two years.

Why must we fight like this, and what are we fighting over? I am very concerned.

— Park Ji-wonPark Ji-won, a veteran lawmaker, questioned the intensity of the internal conflict.

Woong Sik Woo, a five-term representative and former Speaker of the National Assembly, also posted on Facebook, asking what would remain of the party after an election characterized by mutual harm, mockery, and division. The article notes that the potential candidacies of Jeong Cheong-rae and Kim Min-seok are seen as imminent, with Jeong expected to resign his current position around August 24 to officially announce his bid. Kim has also repeatedly hinted at his intention to run, expressing a strong sense of responsibility to strengthen national governance upon his return to the party.

After holding a convention by hurting each other, mocking each other, and creating division, what will be left of our party?

— Woong Sik WooWoong Sik Woo, former Speaker of the National Assembly, reflected on the potential damage of the internal conflict.
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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