"Understood as a call for the Democratic Party's reflection and reform"
[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Lee Jae-myung, the general election campaign committee chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on the 24th regarding Park Ji-hyun, the co-chair of the Democratic Party's Emergency Response Committee, and her public apology, "I understand it as a statement that reflection and reform are necessary for the Democratic Party. I fully agree," while adding, "I caution against any further overinterpretation."
This is interpreted as a remark made with Park's criticism in mind during a Q&A with reporters that morning about the 'retirement of the 586 generation,' and the so-called 'fandom politics' phenomenon called 'Gaeddal (Daughters of Reform)' among the 2030 female voters who have emerged as a strong support base for the Democratic Party.
Lee, who is both the general election campaign committee chairman and the candidate for the Incheon Gyeyang-eul by-election, conveyed through a camp notice in the afternoon, "The Democratic Party earnestly asks the people for an opportunity to improve their lives," expressing his position accordingly.
Park held an emergency press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office that morning and bowed her head, saying, "I apologize a hundred times, a thousand times more. Please trust Park Ji-hyun more. If given a chance in this local election, I will take responsibility and change the Democratic Party."
In response to reporters' remarks that "there are calls for the 86 mainstream members responsible for the election defeat to not run," she replied, "Regarding that point, there will be sufficient discussions within the party today and tomorrow, and an announcement will be made within this week." She also said, "Regarding the retirement of the 86 generation and the process of drawing a picture for a younger Democratic Party, there needs to be discussions on what the current vested interests should do and what process the Democratic Party must go through to truly show reflection and reform."
However, following Lee's caution against overinterpretation, Yoon Ho-jung, co-chair of the Emergency Response Committee, also distanced himself by drawing a line on some of Park's remarks.
After the launch ceremony of the Democratic Party's National Integration Political Change Promotion Committee held at the National Assembly that morning, Yoon told reporters that there was "no agreement with the party" regarding the party reform plan, including Park's mentioned 'retirement theory of the 568 generation.'
When asked whether Park's reform plan announcement was discussed with the leadership, he replied, "It has never been discussed."
When reporters further asked if Park said she would discuss it in the future, Yoon said, "It has not been discussed yet," and drew a line by saying, "I understand it as a personal statement."
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