Yoon Seok-yeol Criticizes Regulations, Saying "Those Without Means Should Be Allowed to Eat Even Substandard Food"
Campaign Explains "Pointing Out Unavoidable Reality"
2030 Generation Recalls "Days of Eating Discarded Food," Calls It "Potentially Hurtful Words"
Ruling Party Condemns in Unison... Lee Jae-myung Criticizes "Poison Is Not Medicine"
A young man is selecting food at a convenience store. The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "No matter what, I don't think this is about food nearing its expiration date."
The backlash against former Prosecutor General and People Power Party presidential pre-candidate Yoon Seok-yeol's remarks on 'substandard food' is intensifying. The ruling party is immediately responding with harsh criticism, calling it virtually a reckless statement. Ruling party figures have raised their voices, saying that health and hygiene are basic rights of the people and cannot be applied discriminately based on wealth.
There are also many criticisms that the remarks about the 'expiration date' made by former lawmaker Shin Ji-ho, who is in charge of the campaign situation room and explained Yoon's comments, crossed the line. Shin said that food nearing its expiration date could be supplied to the poor, but young people of the MZ generation (born early 1980s to early 2000s), many of whom work part-time at convenience stores, have expressed bitter criticism that he is completely unaware of the harsh daily lives of those in their 20s and 30s.
◆ "Working part-time all day and eating food nearing expiration..." Young people recall the day they ate 'discarded food' and feel 'wounded'
Earlier, Yoon said in an interview with Maeil Business Newspaper, "If we talk about substandard food, those who have nothing should be able to choose even lower-priced options to eat cheaper."
After criticism arose in political circles over this remark, former lawmaker Shin Ji-ho, who is in charge of political affairs in Yoon's campaign, explained in an interview on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strongest Current Affairs' on the morning of the 2nd, "There are fresh foods that are close to their expiration dates, right? For example, people who run restaurants, bakeries, or convenience stores may have items that are almost expired. There are many volunteer activities that deliver these to economically struggling people."
However, the criticism shows no sign of subsiding. Among young people, there are accusations that he does not understand the reality of those in their 20s and 30s who survive on convenience store triangle kimbap nearing its expiration date.
A man in his 30s, Kim, who revealed he once worked part-time at a convenience store, expressed disbelief. Kim said, "(At convenience stores) there are so-called discarded foods, which are foods nearing their expiration date," adding, "Although eating them does not pose a major health problem, the problem is the pitiful situation where people have no choice but to eat them." He added, "Which is better, choosing foods with plenty of time left before expiration or eating those nearing expiration?"
A man in his 40s, Park, who has experience working part-time at convenience stores, cafes, and PC rooms, said, "I spent all my 20s working part-time, and the food I ate then was all ramen and foods nearing expiration," and criticized, "I hope people don't say things that could hurt someone."
Also, Choi, a job seeker in his late 20s, said, "My friends work part-time at convenience stores and eat discarded food," adding, "It hurt my heart when I heard about food nearing expiration." Summarizing the young people's comments, while consuming so-called 'discarded food' may not pose health problems, the situation itself can leave a kind of emotional wound.
◆ Ruling and opposition parties simultaneously condemn: "Poison is not medicine," "Shocking perception that health rights can be disregarded," "Tail car in the movie 'Snowpiercer'"
Following the critical opinions of young people, immediate condemnation poured in from political circles. Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, wrote on his Facebook on the 2nd, "Poison is not medicine," and criticized, "Is the fairness that former Prosecutor General Yoon emphasizes one where basic rights of the people such as health, hygiene, safety, and life can be applied discriminately based on wealth?"
Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon also criticized on Facebook, "Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's remarks reveal his dangerous perception of human life and health. The shocking perception that it is acceptable to disregard the health rights of the poor and powerless under the guise of freedom of choice." He added, "His mention of controlling hygiene inspections during his time as a prosecutor shows a distorted self-awareness that law enforcement for public safety can be arbitrarily adjusted by a single prosecutor."
Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun also emphasized on Facebook, "It is the state's duty to ensure that poor citizens do not have to live eating substandard food."
Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae wrote on her SNS, "Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's 'substandard food' remarks are shocking. Is he asking for the right of the poor to eat substandard food?" She pointed out, "Under current law, manufacturing and distribution of substandard food are subject to strict judicial punishment, including death penalty, life imprisonment, or imprisonment from 3 to 5 years."
Criticism also continued within the People Power Party. Former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min said on the same day, "This is shocking. Friedman's claims are not always right," and questioned, "If the idea is that poor people should be allowed to buy substandard food without regulation, does that mean all regulations related to health and safety should be abolished?"
As the controversy continued, Yoon visited People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok on the 2nd and told reporters, "My remarks were distorted." He explained, "From the perspective of liberal economics, excessively high enforcement standards and punishments could reduce the choices available to low-income groups," and responded to the ruling party's offensive by saying, "It's ridiculous."
On the 3rd, former lawmaker Shin Ji-ho rebutted on TBS Radio, "Even former Prime Ministers Lee Nak-yeon and Chung Sye-kyun criticize by distorting the issue, confusing substandard food with defective food and saying 'it's okay to eat defective food.' Substandard food and defective food are different. This is a politically malicious distortion." He added, "Yoon is not yet familiar with political rhetoric, so there may have been a problem in not choosing other expressions," and urged people to consider the overall context of his remarks.
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