"Frowning? It's Undignified" Baek Hyun-jin Publicly Criticizes Kim Boo-kyum

Assemblywoman Bae Hyun-jin of the United Future Party. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] Bae Hyun-jin, floor spokesperson of the United Future Party, publicly criticized former lawmaker Kim Boo-kyum, who is running for the Democratic Party leader, on the 31st.

Earlier on the same day, former lawmaker Kim strongly criticized the United Future Party on his Facebook, saying, "Who was it again that was glaring and calling it dictatorship?" and "Haven't they already been judged in the 21st general election for just obstructing and opposing unconditionally?"

This remark was in response to United Future Party lawmakers strongly opposing the process of submitting bills related to real estate measures to the National Assembly standing committee vote on the 28th of last month without ministry reports and subcommittee formation, arguing that submitting bills first was procedurally problematic. During this process, United Future Party lawmakers also criticized the Democratic Party's rushed legislative process by shouting, "Be a lapdog of dictatorship."

On the 31st, spokesperson Bae pointed out in a post on her Facebook, "How could someone who even served as a minister casually utter such a degrading remark as 'glaring'?"

She rebutted, "With experts advising to 'rather let go' of the slapdash policies of the Moon Jae-in administration and the people's cries resembling screams continuing, do you really feel like attacking the opposition party?"

Spokesperson Bae also took issue with former lawmaker Kim, who lost in the last general election, running for party leader. She said, "The reputation of being a rational figure within the Democratic Party seems powerless in the face of a survival struggle for the party convention," and added, "Isn't he himself a person who was judged by the local residents in the 21st general election?"

She continued, "If you are a contender for the ruling party's leadership, you should properly take a responsible stance and devote yourself to reviving the living conscience within the Democratic Party," and added, "Former Minister of the Interior and Safety, who was judged in the 21st general election, please keep in mind before challenging for party leader that the end of legislative dictatorship is nothing but the stern judgment of the people."