"Should Having an Illegitimate Child Disqualify One from Politics?" Kang Min-jin's Sharp Critique on Jo Dong-yeon's Privacy Controversy

"Can't Understand All the Overly Sensitive Reactions to Family History"
Jang Hye-young "Firmly Oppose Obsessive Reporting and Unfair Attacks on Privacy"
Jo Dong-yeon Reportedly Expressed Intent to Voluntarily Resign on the Morning of the 3rd

Kang Min-jin, Leader of the Youth Justice Party Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] The Justice Party commented on the personal life controversy surrounding Cho Dong-yeon, co-chair of the Democratic Party's joint campaign committee, asking, "Should a person with an illegitimate child not be involved in politics?"

Kang Min-jin, leader of the Youth Justice Party, posted on her Facebook on the 3rd, stating, "I do not agree with the overly sensitive reactions to Cho's family matters," adding, "No matter how public a figure or involved in politics, I cannot understand why so many people need to know about personal matters related to marriage."

Kang Min-jin, leader of the Youth Justice Party, posted on her Facebook on the 3rd criticizing the personal life controversy surrounding Cho Dong-yeon, co-chair of the Democratic Party's joint standing election committee. Photo by Kang, leader's Facebook capture

Leader Kang criticized the controversy over politicians' personal lives by citing the example of France. She said, "Former French President Mitterrand had an illegitimate child and however he managed his marriage, but in that country, it was not a major issue," adding, "Can't we be a bit like that? These issues happen between individuals, and while the person involved may owe an apology to someone, there is absolutely no reason for us, as third parties, to receive an apology from Cho."

On the same day, Justice Party lawmaker Jang Hye-young also criticized the personal life controversy surrounding Cho as 'a human rights violation' through Facebook. She said, "All these actions of digging into and attacking the private life of a person who is not even a public office candidate are extremely human rights-violating," and added, "I cannot understand at all what Cho did wrong or what she should apologize for."

She continued, "I firmly oppose the obsessive reporting and unjust attacks on Cho's private life," and said, "Before being a recruit of the ruling party's campaign committee, as a human being, the unjust attacks against Cho must be firmly stopped, yet the Democratic Party's behavior of blindly following public sentiment is truly a case of adding fuel to the fire."

Additionally, Lawmaker Jang emphasized, "Even if we cannot be adults, let's not become monsters. No matter how intense the presidential election is, if we abandon even the minimum courtesy toward human beings, then what exactly are we doing politics for?"

Meanwhile, it was reported that Cho expressed her intention to voluntarily resign on the morning of the same day. Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party, held an emergency press conference before the National Assembly plenary session that morning, stating, "Cho expressed her intention to resign during a morning phone call," and added, "I plan to meet her in person this weekend to have various discussions and make a judgment."