Preferential treatment? Rather, the Democratic Party engulfed in controversy over 'Youth Neglect'

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The Democratic Party of Korea, which has announced a policy favoring youth, has instead become embroiled in controversy over neglecting young people. It is being pointed out that the core issue of the controversy surrounding lawyer Kim Nam-guk's candidacy for the district of lawmaker Geum Tae-seop is not 'Cho Kuk' but 'youth.'

Professor Kang Seon-woo (41) of South Dakota State University in the U.S., who applied for the nomination in the Gangseo-gap district along with lawyer Kim, issued a statement titled "Why Gangseo-gap?" on the 21st.

"Although I constantly had doubts and skepticism about 'Lawmaker Geum Tae-seop as a party member,' the name 'Geum Tae-seop' seemed too high and big for me, a 'young newcomer,' to step forward. After hesitating tens of thousands of times, former lawmaker Jeong Bong-ju announced his candidacy."

Lawyer Kim said, "Jeong's candidacy was canceled, and this time young lawyer Kim Nam-guk stepped forward," adding, "Lawmaker Geum Tae-seop's main message was not 'a fair competition with a young political newcomer,' but 'Cho Kuk versus anti-Cho Kuk.' Don't twist it. The essence is not whether it is about Cho Kuk or not, but whether you abstained from the era's task of eradicating the conservative forces that maintain vested interests and settle within unchecked power."

The day before, Kim Yong, a Democratic Party preliminary candidate for Bundang-gap, Seongnam City (former spokesperson for Gyeonggi Province), also said on his Facebook, "My heart is heavy watching the controversy surrounding young politician lawyer Kim Nam-guk's run for the National Assembly," adding, "It is even more so seeing the ruthlessness of vested interests who dismiss even the seemingly unlikely challenges of youth with excessive political logic."

Candidate Kim said, "If there is no tolerance to accept even the dreams of young politicians who boldly challenge alone, the '30-year dream of a ruling party' cannot be realized."

He continued, "We must definitely support young politician Kim Nam-guk. Jang Kyung-tae, Yeo Seon-ung, Kim Bin... Politicians who take on bold challenges with youthful spirit are continuing tough battles against existing seniors."

However, among those mentioned by candidate Kim, Yeo Seon-ung, former Youth Communication Policy Officer at the Blue House, challenged the Seoul Songpa-byeong district but it is known that incumbent lawmaker Nam In-soon is likely to receive an uncontested nomination.

Ultimately, there has been no confirmed candidate in their 30s in the Democratic Party yet, and candidates such as Kim Bin (Mapo-eul), Jeong Jun-ho (Gwangju Buk-gu-gap), Jang Cheol-min (Daejeon Dong-gu), and Jeong Eun-hye (Bucheon Ojeong) have only been given the opportunity to participate in primaries.