Yoo Sang-min: "Veterans Treated Like Parasites Amid 'Lee Jun-seok Storm'... Let's Not Be Intimidated"

Sangmin Lee, Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Democratic Party of Korea, is declaring the opening at the preliminary primary election meeting to select the party leader candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea held at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of April 18.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Lee Sang-min, a five-term senior member of the Democratic Party of Korea, comforted by saying, "The whole public sentiment is lumping the elderly together as obsolete or parasites due to the Lee Jun-seok whirlwind," and urged, "Let's be confident. Instead of being intimidated, let's take the lead in revolutionary change and reform."

On the 13th, Lee posted on his Facebook a piece titled 'A Letter to the Present and Future Elderly,' saying, "These days, the elderly are feeling down and cautious."

He pointed out, "It's a whirlwind. On one hand, there are valid points and responsibilities to bear. But on the other hand, it is also unreasonable, unbalanced, and not essential."

He continued, "The elderly are battle-hardened veterans who have experienced everything. Also, their youthful passion in their younger days was no less than that of today's youth," and argued, "If we revive that passion and combine it with today's wisdom and experience, isn't it worth trying?"

He added, "Mistakes, failures, and setbacks should not be completely denied or discarded but should be used as valuable assets," explaining, "This is demonstrated by Youn Yuh-jung, Biden, Na Hoon-a, Nam Jin, Cho Yong-pil, and others."

Lee further stated, "Let's not blame the youth for their clumsiness and recklessness but respect and encourage their bravery, and with the elderly's own experience and revived passion, embrace and lead them boldly," and said, "Rather, we should take the lead in revolutionary change and reform to pioneer the era."

He added, "Let's lead more confidently, boldly, and revolutionarily than ever before. I firmly resolve this," and added, "The Democratic Party is no exception."

Earlier, on the 11th, when Lee Jun-seok was elected as the new leader of the People Power Party, Lee wrote, "For the Democratic Party of Korea, following the crushing defeat in the April 7 by-election, this is an even bigger shock," and said, "It's embarrassing. It makes me look back and ask, what have I been doing all this time?"

He lamented, "I'm envious. Our Democratic Party should be like that too, but instead, it is stuck and hardened, unable to move."

He concluded, "But this is not the time to be trapped in defeatism and helplessness. Let's take this opportunity to sweep away all the gloomy atmosphere."