Wonjonggeon Scandal: Ruling Party Leadership Apologizes
Limits of Pre-Election Event Pointed Out
At Least 1-2 Years of Political Training Needed
Youth Party Members Call It a "Disaster," Feeling Disillusioned
[Asia Economy Reporters Park Cheol-eung and Kang Nahum] The Democratic Party of Korea is struggling with the 'Won Jong-geon scandal.' Lee In-young, the party's floor leader, apologized, saying, "We failed to scrutinize thoroughly." Not only the inadequate verification but also the fundamental problems in the talent recruitment method have been highlighted. There are many criticisms that it is limited as it is done as an event ahead of the election.
On the 29th, Lee appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said, "I apologize if we caused disappointment and concern to the public by not being more meticulous and thorough in recruiting talents." He also mentioned that "we will go through a process of further inspection and supplementation" regarding the talent recruitment verification system.
Along with allegations of 'dating violence,' questions about qualifications have also arisen. This is because an online anonymous workplace bulletin board post, presumed to have been written by Mr. Won in November last year, was revealed. The author wrote, "Both parties offered me positions for next year's general election and proportional representation, but I am in my 20s and have not worked long at my company," adding, "I am relatively young (?) and not familiar with politics, but I think it is a good opportunity, so I am trying to find out more." The post specified eBay, where Mr. Won worked.
Mr. Won, in his 20s, had attracted attention for his emotional appearances on past broadcast programs, but now he has become a negative factor in the relatively smooth general election campaign of the Democratic Party. This can be seen as an extreme example of the problems inherent in the talent recruitment methods of each party.
Seo Bok-kyung, a researcher at Sogang University's Institute of Modern Politics, said, "It is natural to recruit talents according to a changing society and new voter composition, but it is inappropriate to do it as a surprise show just before the election," adding, "It is normal to accept them at least 1 to 2 years before the election and have them go through a process of learning and training in politics within each party's functional committees."
He continued, "Doesn't it just mean that those who have grown within the party are not considered talents? It leads to a bad effect of conditioning voters to expect instant (event-based) talent recruitment."
In the 2016 general election, Lee Cheol-hee and Pyo Chang-won, who were representative talents recruited by the Democratic Party, announced their withdrawal from the election in October last year. Lee said, "I am very tired and ashamed because of the pathetic state of politics," and Pyo said, "For people like me who are exhausted and burnt out, a change of mission and baton touch is necessary for Korea to survive."
Youth party members within the Democratic Party perceive this incident as a 'disaster.' One young rights party member expressed anger, saying, "Was it your intention to bring in someone with unclear party loyalty and unclear political stance to do politics? It is close to an insult to party members." A secretary in a Democratic Party lawmaker's office lamented, "I don't know what kind of disgrace this is, chasing only stories without considering expertise at all," adding, "Staff members who have devoted themselves to the party for a long time but failed to seize opportunities can only feel more hollow."
Another young party member said, "There is almost no pathway for our party's youth to enter central politics. Only those who survive alone until the end barely get a chance," adding, "Longtime active young party members are trembling like the Little Match Girl, and it was natural to feel unfair seeing the party leadership pave a flower path for Mr. Won."
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