'Breaking Up with Fandom Politics and 586 Retirement' Yoon Ho-jung and the Campaign Committee Draw the Line on Park Ji-hyun's Candid Remarks

On the 25th, an Attempt at 'Reform' Was Made in the Election Committee Meeting
But Loud Arguments Ensued and "Personal Opinions" Were Delimited

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The Democratic Party of Korea, which has entered a downward trend in approval ratings since the presidential election, drew the sword of reform just a week before the local elections but fell into chaos due to discord within the party. Park Ji-hyun, the standing election countermeasures committee chairperson, repeatedly raised issues such as the '586 generation retirement,' delivering sharp criticism toward the party, but other leadership members distanced themselves by calling it a "personal opinion."

On the 25th, at a joint meeting of the election committee held at the National Assembly, Park Ji-hyun argued that the party must part ways with 'fanbase politics' along with the retirement of the 586 generation. Park stated, "We need to discuss the '586 retirement' to regain the trust of the people," adding, "During the presidential election, there was a declaration of stepping back to the second line, but so far, only former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, former Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Kim Young-choon, and former Blue House Political Secretary Choi Jae-sung have announced their retirement."

She mentioned fanbase politics as a recent problem within the party. Park said, "Our party must break away from fanbase politics and restore mass politics," and added, "The strong fanbase covered up the wrong double standards, which led to the people's judgment." She also said, "Politics where people are afraid to speak out because of the fanbase is dead politics," and emphasized, "No matter what difficulties the Democratic Party faces, it must never succumb to the text message bombings from the extreme supporters."

She then delivered a sharp rebuke by announcing plans to initiate disciplinary procedures against Representative Choi Kang-wook, who has been embroiled in sexual misconduct allegations within the party. She said, "Our party has suffered so much pain due to sexual violence by local government heads affiliated with us, yet the issue was delayed again," and added, "We will promptly and appropriately prepare disciplinary procedures against Representative Choi by exercising the emergency disciplinary authority of the emergency committee."

Park proposed an 'appeal strategy' as an alternative to secure victory in the local elections. She said, "To overcome the current disadvantage, there is no choice but an appeal strategy," and suggested, "I propose that the governors of Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon, along with the election committee chairs, jointly adopt a public apology containing reflection, introspection, party reform, and renewal plans, and announce it to the people."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Other party leaders, excluding Park, showed discomfort at her sharp remarks. After the opening remarks that day, the election committee meeting turned private, and loud voices were heard several times inside the room. Yoon Ho-jung, co-standing election committee chairperson, reportedly expressed anger at Park's remarks during the meeting. Speaking to reporters that morning, he criticized Park's press conference the previous day, saying, "The party does not have to consult on every personal action." After the meeting, he came out with a stern expression and drew a line on the '586 retirement theory,' saying, "It does not seem appropriate for a few people to discuss and present such content right before the election," adding, "It is an issue to be discussed within the party's deliberative body."

Shin Hyun-young, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, explained that Park's remarks were "her personal opinion," and said, "We need to carefully consider how sincerely rushing to reflect before the election will be perceived by the public." Regarding the '586 retirement theory,' she said, "Whether the uniform retirement of the 586 generation guarantees successful results in the party's personnel reform should be thoroughly discussed before addressing the public," and about the disciplinary action against Representative Choi, she added, "Physical time is needed."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party held a meeting under the name 'Joint Meeting of the Election Committee for National Balance and Livelihood Stability' and carried out an appeal strategy. Former Minister of the Interior and Safety Jeon Hae-cheol, former Minister of Environment Han Jeong-ae, and former Minister of SMEs and Startups Kwon Chil-seung, who served in the Moon Jae-in administration, attended the meeting. The election committee announced that for the remaining week, meetings would be conducted centered on the election headquarters chief rather than the election committee chairpersons.