"2030 Can't Remember Past Events" Yoon Camp's Joo Ho-young Apologizes for Criticism of Youth Disparagement

Opposition Candidate: "Apologize for Youth Derogatory Remarks," "Clearly Shows Why Youth Support Is Low"
"Yoon Silent, So Campaign Chair's Slip of Tongue" Criticism
Joo Ho-young: "No Intent to Deride... My Lack of Carefulness" Apologizes

Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential primary candidate (right), and Representative Joo Ho-young (left), who joined as the election campaign committee chairman, are answering reporters' questions after holding a press conference for Joo's recruitment at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 17th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Joo Ho-young, the election countermeasures committee chairman of Yoon Seok-yeol's presidential campaign, who was recently recruited by the People Power Party's presidential candidate and former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, apologized after controversy arose over his remarks about the 'low approval rating among 2030 youth.'

On the 18th, Representative Joo appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and, when asked about the 'main reason why candidate Yoon has low approval ratings among the 2030 generation,' he said, "The 2030 generation tends not to remember politicians' past actions well and judges based on the news they are currently exposed to closely." When the host asked, "So, does a superficial impression have too much influence?" he replied, "I think so."

This remark sparked a concentrated offensive from other candidates of the same party. Hong Jun-pyo's campaign spokesperson, Yeomyeong, stated in a press release, "This is why young people do not support candidate Yoon," and raised their voice demanding, "Chairman Joo must apologize for his disparaging remarks about youth."

Yoo Seung-min's campaign spokesperson, Lee Hyowon, said in a commentary, "Looking at the election committee chairman's perspective on youth, the reason for candidate Yoon's low youth approval rating is clearly visible," and pointed out, "Is there no memory of the Democratic Party's Park Young-sun, who lost in the Seoul mayoral by-election because she said the younger generation has a 'low level of historical experience'?"

Won Hee-ryong's campaign spokesperson, Park Ki-nyung, also urged in a statement, "Is the election committee chairman making a gaffe because candidate Yoon is quiet? At this level of understanding of the younger generation, can you really expect to gain support from the 2030 generation?" and demanded, "Immediately apologize for the disparaging remarks."

Joo Ho-young, a member of the People Power Party, is questioning at the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee's government-funded research institute (Governing Research Institute) audit held on the morning of the 18th at the KAIST auditorium in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In response, Representative Joo immediately clarified through the 'Statement of Representative Joo Ho-young, Chairman of Yoon Seok-yeol's National Campaign Election Committee' that afternoon. He expressed regret, saying, "There was absolutely no intention to ignore or disparage the 2030 generation in my interview remarks today," and added, "If it was perceived that way, it was my lack of carefulness."

He further explained, "Having observed candidates within the party for a long time, I meant that judgments can differ when considering not only their current appearances but also their past actions."