"I Jae-myung says nothing about Park Wan-joo and Choi Kang-wook's sexual misconduct"
"Will follow party policy, intends to continue in politics"
In May, Park Ji-hyun, co-chair of the Democratic Party of Korea's emergency committee, attended and spoke at the launch ceremony of the election countermeasures committee held at the election office of Seo Jae-hyun, candidate for mayor of Daegu Seo-gu Naedang-dong. / Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Former Emergency Committee Chairperson of the Democratic Party, Park Jihyun's bid for party leader was thwarted. On the 4th, the party's Emergency Committee concluded that Park did not meet the eligibility requirement of being a 'registered party member' and found no grounds to grant an exception. However, Park repeatedly emphasized the need for reform within the Democratic Party. She raised her voice, stating, "If we do not firmly address sexual crime issues and fail to overcome leniency, the Democratic Party has no future."
On the 4th, Park appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyunjung's News Show' and explained that her decision to run in the party convention was due to "politics that treat youth as disposable." She said, "In politics, youth have often been used and discarded as disposable," adding, "I thought that if I could endure within this system, I could serve as a role model for other young people."
She criticized the leading party leader candidate, Representative Lee Jae-myung, saying he changed before and after the presidential election. Park stated, "During the presidential election, he repeatedly promised to take a firm stance on sexual crime issues, but he said almost nothing about the expulsion of Representative Park Wan-joo or the allegations of sexual harassment against Representative Choi Kang-wook," adding, "He even blocked me from speaking about the Choi case."
She continued, "I think this is leniency. If we do not reflect on this internal leniency, the Democratic Party will have no future. I believe the need to cut off sexual violence was the reason for my candidacy," and insisted that Lee should not run in the party convention.
Park also took aim at the 97 group (those born in the 1970s and who entered university in the 1990s), who emerged as a generation change force against Lee. She said, "What is different about them except being about 10 years younger than the 586 generation (those in their 50s, who entered university in the 1980s and were born in the 1960s)?" She pointed out, "Except for Representative Park Yong-jin, those who declared their candidacy were silent when I spoke about reform and renewal during my time as Emergency Committee Chair."
Regarding criticism that she caused turmoil by criticizing the party during her tenure as Emergency Committee Chair, Park responded, "When I was called upon, I was asked to bring about reform and innovation in the party. I raised my voice as requested, but if they said 'Don't do it because the election is near,' they should have called me after the election," adding, "I believe that showing genuine reflection and reform when the party is at fault is the most effective campaign."
She also denied suspicions that she had backing behind the scenes, saying, "When a young female politician makes a statement, people think there must be someone behind her. But when a senior lawmaker says something, they don't say that. I feel sorry that I am being viewed through the frame of being a woman, youth, and political newcomer," adding, "If there is any backing, I think it is the public's desire for the Democratic Party to finally change," she added.
When asked what she would do if her bid for party leader was blocked, Park said, "If the Emergency Committee decides so, I will comply," adding, "It is very difficult, but since I have already entered, I think I should continue (in politics) for now."
Former Emergency Response Committee Chairperson of the Democratic Party, Park Ji-hyun, is attending the Greenbelt Results Sharing Party "Brave Journey" held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul on the 1st. /Photo by Yonhap News
The Democratic Party's Emergency Committee concluded that Park's candidacy for the party convention was not allowed. Emergency Committee Chair Woo Sang-ho stated at the meeting that day, "Park is a talent of the Democratic Party, but we judged that there were no unavoidable reasons to grant an exception."
According to the current Democratic Party's constitution and regulations, to be eligible for party leader candidacy, one must be a registered party member who has paid party dues for six months. Park did not meet this requirement as she had not been a party member for six months. Park requested the Emergency Committee and the Party Affairs Committee to allow her candidacy based on a proviso that it could be decided differently by the Party Affairs Committee resolution, but the Emergency Committee did not accept this.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party's convention is scheduled for August 28. So far, those who have declared their candidacy for party leader are Representatives Kang Byung-won, Park Yong-jin, and Kang Hoon-sik, who are classified as part of the 97 group. Representative Lee Jae-myung has not yet officially declared his candidacy.
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