Future United Party in Turmoil Over 'Controversial Remarks'... Kim Jong-in Calls 'Cha Myung-jin's Full Run' "Pathetic People"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Lee Ji-eun and Kim Hye-min] The United Future Party is experiencing severe internal strife over 'controversial remarks' ahead of the election.

On the morning of the 10th, the United Future Party held an ethics committee meeting and dismissed the appeals of Cha Myung-jin, the candidate for Bucheon B in Gyeonggi Province, who made disparaging remarks about the Sewol ferry victims' families, and Kim Dae-ho, the candidate for Gwanak Gap in Seoul, who was expelled for derogatory comments about the '3040 generation' and the elderly. On the 9th, Kim criticized the party's decision on Facebook, questioning the Supreme Council's expulsion decision by asking, "Law and principle?" and saying, "It seems the road ahead is still long. Having experienced both the Democratic Party and the United Future Party, when it comes to democracy, it's a case of six of one, half a dozen of the other."

Meanwhile, Cha was advised to leave the party. If he refuses to comply with the recommendation to leave, he will be expelled after 10 days, but he is allowed to run in the election for now. Upon the party's decision, Cha expressed gratitude on Facebook, saying, "Thank you for the wise decision of the ethics committee. Fortunately, I avoided expulsion," and added, "I can complete the election as a United Future Party candidate. I have already started campaigning."

Regarding this disciplinary outcome, Kim Jong-in, the United Future Party's overall election committee chairman, said, "The ethics committee members are pathetic," and stated, "I do not recognize that person as a United Future Party candidate." This was an open defiance of the party ethics committee's decision. Consequently, with the election imminent, the United Future Party's election strategy is plunging into great confusion, and the possibility of defections cannot be ruled out. The United Future Party is launching a 'counterattack' by highlighting the controversial remarks of Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party, but its effectiveness remains uncertain.

In addition to the already raised issues, there are further controversies involving United Future Party candidates' offensive remarks. Ju Dong-sik, running in Seo-gu Gap, Gwangju, said at a general election candidate invitation debate on the 8th, "Gwangju is a city trapped in the legacy of the 1980s, a city obsessed with rituals rather than production, a city where monuments to past tragedies obstruct young people's employment and childbirth." His previous Facebook comment, "Let's create and sink a Sewol ferry every month to generate jobs," also resurfaced.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, Lee Geun-yeol, running in Gunsan, Jeonbuk, caused controversy by stating in his election leaflet that he would create a Chinatown in the Yeonghwa-dong area of Gunsan, with a detailed plan to "establish a licensed red-light district." A red-light district is an area densely populated with legally permitted prostitution establishments. Furthermore, Jo Gwan-sik, co-chief of the campaign committee for Kim Byung-joon, candidate for Sejong, resigned after posting derogatory content about the late former President Roh Moo-hyun and President Moon Jae-in on Facebook, sparking controversy.

As a series of offensive remarks controversies continue just before the election, the United Future Party has launched a counterattack by emphasizing the Democratic Party's offensive remarks. On the 9th, the United Future Party issued a statement saying, "Leader Lee is spewing offensive remarks about the main opposition party just to gain some votes," raising issues about his remarks on a podcast the previous day, where he likened the United Future Party to 'native Japanese collaborators' and 'gangsters.' They also criticized Hong Seong-guk, Democratic Party candidate for Sejong City Gap, for his offensive remark in a lecture last February, saying, "Having two wives is better than one," urging him to resign. They also singled out a post by Presidential Chief of Staff Noh Young-min on his Facebook page, which compared COVID-19 deaths and confirmed cases per million population with other countries, implying the government was doing well, criticizing it as "ranking games in the face of tragic deaths."