[Summary] "Ilbe Politician" vs "Right-Wing Framing" O Se-hoon’s 'Joseonjok' Remark Sparks Ruling and Opposition Parties' Debate

Former Seoul Mayor Oh: "Many from a specific area in Seoul Gwangjin-eul"
Ruling party: "Exposes regional, generational, ethnic hatred," "No eligibility to run" criticism
Opposition: "Distortion of explanation intent," "Excessive criticism" response

O Se-hoon, former Seoul Mayor of the People Power Party, running in the Seoul mayoral by-election / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] The ruling and opposition parties clashed over former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's so-called 'Joseonjok remarks.' The Democratic Party of Korea sharply criticized Oh, calling him a "politician transformed into an Ilbe supporter," while the People Power Party responded by accusing the opposition of "applying an extreme-right frame."

On the 27th, former Mayor Oh appeared on the conservative-leaning YouTube channel 'GoseonggukTV' and described the Seoul Gwangjin district, where he lost to Democratic Party lawmaker Go Mi-jeong in the last general election, as "having many residents from a specific region and, above all, many people in their 30s and 40s," explaining that "these people are the Democratic Party's support base."

He further claimed, "There are tens of thousands of naturalized Joseonjok living on the Yangkkochi street," and "more than 90% of them lean towards the Democratic Party."

The ruling party criticized Oh's remarks as promoting 'regional, generational, and ethnic hatred.'

Woo Sang-ho, a Democratic Party lawmaker running in the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, wrote on his Facebook on the 28th, "I saw the ugly face of regional hatred, generational hatred, and ethnic hatred held by the main opposition party candidate," and criticized, "It is deplorable how the protagonist of the 'Oh Se-hoon Law,' created for clean politics, has somehow transformed into an Ilbe politician."

Woo Sang-ho, a preliminary candidate for the Seoul mayor from the Democratic Party of Korea, is answering reporters' questions after announcing the eighth policy pledge, 'Child and Care Policy,' at the National Assembly Communication Hall on the morning of the 28th. / Photo by Yonhap News

He added, "Seoul has a more diverse population composition than anywhere else, and this diversity is the driving force and fertilizer for Seoul's growth and development," and pointed out, "It is shameful that a person full of hateful consciousness was once the mayor of Seoul and is now running again as a candidate for Seoul mayor."

On the same day, fellow party member Jung Cheong-rae also wrote on Facebook, sarcastically criticizing, "If losing in the last general election was not my fault but the voters', then why did you run?"

Jung said, "Such remarks are highly inappropriate for a defeated candidate," and warned, "If you lose to candidate Na Kyung-won in this People Power Party primary, it will be like this."

He continued, "Are you blaming the voters? I think these are remarks that should never be made by an elected politician," and criticized, "Are you even qualified to run?"

Professor Kim Geun-sik of Gyeongnam University, chairman of the People Power Party's Songpa-byeong district in Seoul and a candidate for the Seoul mayoral by-election, is giving a greeting at the announcement event titled "Park Won-soon's Lost Decade of Administration, Promise for a New Leap" held at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul on the afternoon of the 20th. / Photo by Yonhap News

On the other hand, the opposition responded by saying, "They label those with different views as extreme right."

Hong Jong-gi, deputy spokesperson for the People Power Party, said in a statement that day, "Pre-candidate Woo Sang-ho of the Democratic Party criticized People Power Party pre-candidate Oh Se-hoon as an 'Ilbe politician,'" and pointed out, "They distorted Oh Se-hoon's explanation of his general election defeat in a way completely different from his intention, engaging in the ruling party's specialty of applying an extreme-right frame."

He added, "It is also hateful to indiscriminately criticize citizens who use a particular website just because their political views differ."

Hong emphasized, "The overall intent of Oh Se-hoon's remarks was that he takes responsibility for his defeat in the general election and reflects on it," and explained, "The area was a Democratic Party stronghold in terms of population composition, but he did his best to win over those very voters."

Professor Kim Geun-sik of Gyeongnam National University, who is running as a People Power Party pre-candidate for Seoul mayor, also criticized on Facebook, "Woo Sang-ho took the lead among the hardcore Moon Jae-in supporters (derogatorily called 'Ddaekae-moon') to win favor with his base," and said, "While it is free to criticize opponents in politics, excessive criticism boomerangs back."

He continued, "Mr. Woo, even if you criticize former Mayor Oh Se-hoon's remarks, comparing him to Ilbe is excessive stigmatization," and warned, "If you mock your opponent as an Ilbe politician, you yourself become Ilbe-level."