Kim Woong: "The National Assembly is a place that needs 'work clothes'... Did wearing a suit mean doing politics well?"

Support from Ruling and Opposition Lawmakers Continues in 'Ryu Ho-jeong One-piece Controversy'
Analysis of 'Park Won-soon Condolence Refusal Retaliation' Despite 17-Year-Old 'Yoo Si-min Back Pants' Insults

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] "Just because someone wears a suit doesn't mean they do politics well. I believe the National Assembly plenary hall requires 'work clothes' more than etiquette."

On the 6th, Rep. Kim Woong of the United Future Party responded to a question about Rep. Ryu Ho-jeong of the Justice Party's pink dress controversy in a phone interview with Asia Economy, saying, "In the plenary hall, shouldn't it be more of a work clothes concept for reading and debating rather than observing etiquette?" Rep. Kim is known for commuting in business casual attire, such as a bright-colored jacket and sneakers, rather than the 'standard lawmaker look' of a dark jacket with a badge on the left chest.

He added, "Wearing suits or formal attire hasn't necessarily meant doing politics well," and "I also don't want to show the image that people always associate with lawmakers."

As Rep. Kim mentioned, there is an assessment that the attire of lawmakers in the 21st National Assembly shows a different image compared to the 20th National Assembly. A staff member from a Democratic Party lawmaker's office said, "The lawmaker usually comes to work wearing a comfortable PK (pique) T-shirt, so sometimes constituents mistake the lawmaker for an aide and look for the aides even when the lawmaker is right in front of them." Rep. Jang Hye-young of the Justice Party, who is active in the Planning and Finance Committee, has also come to work wearing an orange T-shirt labeled 'Cashier' and sneakers.

Support for Rep. Ryu from Democratic Party lawmakers continues. On the same day, Rep. Yang Hyang-ja of the Democratic Party appeared on BBS Radio and said, "I feel ashamed of that controversy. I don't understand how our society has come to make clothing a source of controversy. I deeply regret that such a controversy has arisen."

Rep. Go Min-jung of the Democratic Party also wrote on her Facebook the day before, "I don't agree with all of Rep. Ryu's thoughts because there are quite a few differences," but added, "I want to express my gratitude for breaking the excessive solemnity and authoritarianism of the National Assembly." Rep. Yoo Jeong-joo of the Democratic Party also wrote on Facebook, "I recall former Rep. Yoo Si-min's entrance to the National Assembly 17 years ago," adding, "The same controversy is happening nearly 20 years later. Similar debates might repeat even in 2040. Ah, it stinks."

Some analysts interpret the harsh criticism of Rep. Ryu's dress by some Democratic Party supporters, unlike the time when former Rep. Yoo entered wearing 'baggy pants' in 2003, as retaliation for Rep. Ryu's refusal to pay respects at the funeral of former Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon.

A political insider said, "The criticisms from some Democratic Party supporters seem unnatural compared to the time of former Rep. Yoo," and "Ultimately, it is likely related to Rep. Ryu's decision not to attend former Mayor Park's funeral."

Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon criticized, saying, "'Is there a separate 'National Assembly uniform'?" but also added, "Expressions like 'Did you come to deliver coffee?', 'Room salon madam bastard,' and 'Play the tambourine' reflect a culture in which Democratic Party local government heads repeatedly committed sexual harassment incidents."