Kim Geun-sik: "Ruling Party Buzzes Over Jo Su-jin's 'Concubine Remark', Silent on Woo Sang-ho's 'Ilbe Comment'"

"우상호, Even If Criticizing Oh Se-hoon's Remarks, Comparing to 'Ilbe' Is Stigmatization"
"If Jo Su-jin's Concubine Remark Is Reported to the Ethics Committee, Rep. Woo Should Be Treated the Same"

Professor Kim Geun-sik of Gyeongnam University, who ran for the Seoul mayoral by-election. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] On the 28th, Professor Kim Geun-sik of Gyeongnam National University, who is running as the People Power Party candidate in the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, criticized the ruling party and Rep. Woo Sang-ho of the Democratic Party of Korea as "double standards."

In a post on his Facebook page that day, Professor Kim said, "Rep. Woo Sang-ho took the lead among the hardcore Moon Jae-in supporters (called 'Ddaekae-moon,' a derogatory term for extreme supporters of former President Moon Jae-in) to win favor with the pro-Moon faction," adding, "While it is free to criticize opponents in politics, excessive criticism often boomerangs back on oneself."

He continued, "The Democratic Party, which rose up like a swarm of bees over Rep. Jo Su-jin's 'concubine remark,' remains silent about Rep. Woo Sang-ho's 'Ilbe remark,'" pointing out, "Politics is done with words, but politics can also be ruined by words."

Earlier, on the 26th, Rep. Jo Su-jin of the People Power Party criticized Rep. Ko Min-jung of the Democratic Party on Facebook, sarcastically saying, "Even concubines in the Joseon Dynasty who bore princes would not have been treated like this."

This remark sparked criticism from the Democratic Party as a "vulgar comment," and eventually, on the 28th, Rep. Jo posted again on Facebook, expressing regret that her criticism caused controversy contrary to her original intent and apologized.

Professor Kim appears to have criticized the ruling party for showing a harsh reaction to Rep. Jo's slip of the tongue while being lenient toward Rep. Woo from the same party.

Regarding this, Professor Kim said, "Rep. Woo, even if you criticize former Mayor Oh Se-hoon's remarks, comparing him to Ilbe is an excessive stigmatization," and pointed out, "If you mock your opponent as an Ilbe politician, Rep. Woo himself becomes equivalent to Ilbe."

He further argued, "If Rep. Jo Su-jin's concubine remark is to be reported to the Ethics Committee, then Rep. Woo Sang-ho's Ilbe remark should also be reported by the same standard."

Woo Sang-ho, Member of the Democratic Party of Korea./Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Earlier, on the 27th, Rep. Woo strongly criticized Oh Se-hoon, a People Power Party primary candidate, saying, "It is deplorable how the 'Oh Se-hoon Law,' created for clean politics, has somehow been distorted into the work of an 'Ilbe politician.'"

In a post on Facebook that day, Rep. Woo said, "Oh claimed that the reason for the general election defeat was because there were many people from specific regions, people in their 30s and 40s, and many ethnic Koreans from China (Joseonjok)," adding this.

He continued, "I saw the ugly truth of regional hatred, generational hatred, and compatriot hatred held by the leading opposition candidate," and criticized, "Distorted elitism that blames oneself when successful and others when failing has become even more unsightly when combined with hatred."

Meanwhile, on the same day, Oh appeared on the conservative YouTube channel 'Goseongguk TV' and explained about the Seoul Gwangjin district, where he lost to Rep. Ko in the last general election, saying, "Everyone knows there are many people from specific regions, and above all, many are in their 30s and 40s," adding, "These people are Democratic Party supporters."

He further claimed, "There are tens of thousands of naturalized Joseonjok living in the Yangkkochi street area," and "More than 90% of them lean toward the Democratic Party."