[Issue Summary] 2030 ‘Gaeddal’ Group Says “Park Ji-hyun, Stop Internal Criticism... Resign”

[Asia Economy PD Yoon Jin-geun] The so-called ‘Gaeddal’ (Daughters of Reform), referring to the strong female supporters in their 20s and 30s of the Democratic Party of Korea, gathered in front of the Democratic Party headquarters on the 20th to demand a sincere apology and resignation from Park Ji-hyun, co-chair of the Democratic Party’s Emergency Response Committee.

Most participants in the rally wore blue tops and hats. They also held placards with slogans such as “Park Ji-hyun is not the representative of 20s and 30s party members” and “The 20s and 30s wave stands with the 40s and 50s strong current.”

They shouted slogans including “Park Ji-hyun step down,” “The Emergency Committee can do it,” “The Democratic Party can do it,” “Women can do it,” and “We can win the local elections.”

A speaker identified as A, wearing a blue skirt and a blue crown, emphasized, “I, standing right in front of you, and our sisters sitting here, declare that we are the 20s and 30s Gaeddal.”

Another speaker, B, who stood on a truck used as the rally stage, said, “Park Ji-hyun, do not privatize young women as your supporters.” He added, “Women in their 20s and 30s support the cause, not Park Ji-hyun herself.” B further criticized, “With such arrogance from the Emergency Committee chair, who would vote for the Democratic Party?” and questioned, “Since when has the Emergency Committee chair been a position to create emergency situations?”

Participants claimed that Chair Park is sabotaging the Democratic Party’s local elections through ‘internal backbiting.’ Speaker C said, “Stop interfering with the Democratic Party’s local elections by making unfounded accusations and calling for ‘expulsion’ without fact-checking,” and pointed out, “Your words and actions are causing the Democratic Party’s approval ratings to drop and driving away long-time party members in their 40s and 50s.”

C continued, “You once said we should focus on the local elections during the prosecution reform period, but now you say it doesn’t matter if we lose the local elections. What is the intention behind such remarks?” and stated, “You are not qualified to be the Emergency Committee chair of the Democratic Party.”

The rally participants concluded the event around 7:50 p.m. by singing “Into the New World.” The organizer said in closing remarks, “The sisters gathered here today were very worried about Chair Park Ji-hyun,” and added, “We hope she grows into a good politician.”

Meanwhile, on the 20th, Chair Park Ji-hyun dismissed the criticism in an interview on MBC Radio’s ‘Kim Jong-bae’s Focus,’ saying, “Although I am receiving a flood of text messages telling me to stop internal backbiting, my position remains unchanged.” She maintained, “All sexual assault cases reported to our party must be promptly addressed regardless of the local elections.”