Criticism Arises Over Remarks Saying 'People Over 60 Should Not Hold Responsible Positions'
Former Co-Chair of the Emergency Committee of the Democratic Party, Park Ji-hyun. / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Former co-chair of the Democratic Party's Emergency Response Committee Park Jihyun fired back at former Roh Moo-hyun Foundation director Yoo Si-min, who criticized her, saying, "The 586 generation (people in their 50s, who entered university in the 1980s, born in the 1960s) that has enjoyed vested interests for over 30 years should prepare for a graceful exit."
Former director Yoo recently wrote in an article for the online media 'Mindle' that Park and the so-called 'Jogeumbakhae' (Assemblymen Cho Eung-cheon, Geum Tae-seop, Park Yong-jin, Kim Hae-young) criticize the Democratic Party harshly to gain fame. He said about former co-chair Park, "In short, the public has no interest in today's Park Jihyun," and "Park Jihyun is just a noisy politician in the media."
In response, former co-chair Park opened her post on Facebook on the 29th by saying, "Former director Yoo is a politician I really like," but added, "The article you posted this time is too severe to simply take as a grateful advice, so I am leaving my thoughts."
She said, "It seems that former director Yoo thinks I am trying to attract attention by being negative about the Democratic Party and Representative Lee Jae-myung and saying things the media likes, but the mindset that critical debate is an act of treason is not democracy," and countered, "I am not criticizing the hardline fandom to attract media attention but to save the Democratic Party."
She continued, "Former director Yoo fought against dictatorship for freedom in his youth, but now he is labeling those with different opinions as traitors. I worry that he is becoming similar to the dictators he fought against," and emphasized, "It is not Park Jihyun but the hardline fandom that is ruining the Democratic Party."
Former co-chair Park said, "(The hardline fandom) is nothing but twisted fascists who do not acknowledge healthy intra-party debate and persuasion, based on hatred of the opposition," and added, "Those who harm the party leader and isolate the Democratic Party from the people are the hardline fandom and people like spokesperson Kim Eui-gyeom and Supreme Council member Jang Kyung-tae who ride on them."
She also said, "The reason I say the Democratic Party must break ties with the hardline fandom and cross the rivers of Cho Kuk (former Minister of Justice) and Park Won-soon (former Mayor of Seoul) is that it is the only way for the Democratic Party to regain the trust of the people," and pointed out, "Former President Moon Jae-in defended the violent actions of hardline supporters as 'the seasoning of democracy,' and as a result, the Democratic Party became a captive of fandom rather than a party where diverse opinions are expressed, suffering three consecutive defeats in the by-elections, presidential election, and local elections."
Former co-chair Park called for the 586 generation, which has enjoyed vested interests within the Democratic Party, to prepare for their exit, saying, "The unreasonable insistence of wrapping fandom in justice must disappear." She concluded her post by quoting former director Yoo's past remarks, saying, "We should acknowledge our differences and coexist," and "If possible, people over 60 should not hold responsible positions."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
