Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin, a member of the non-Myeong faction who reached out with a call to "let's have a conversation" toward the so-called 'Gaeddal,' the party's hardline supporters, posted a video on the 26th of last month showing his encounter with Gaeddal in Andong, urging, "Let's meet and find each other's roles for the Democratic Party through dialogue."
On the 1st, Park uploaded a video on his social media service (SNS) titled "To those who call me a subak." The term subak, meaning 'someone who is different inside and out,' is used to disparage the party's non-mainstream members.
This video was recorded when he visited the Gyeongbuk Provincial Party Office for a cooperation agreement ceremony with the Andong-Yecheon regional committee and a party member lecture.
Seeing hardline supporters holding banners and placards in front of the office with messages like "Reject Park Yong-jin" and "Live like a human," he said, "I knew you all would be doing this. But I came on purpose because I wanted to talk with you," attempting to initiate dialogue.
However, he was met only with cold responses saying, "We don't want to talk." Park continued, "Isn't this our first meeting? It's my first time meeting you. But to speak only hostilely and tell me not to talk right away?is this the Democratic Party? Is this how the Democratic Party acts? I don't think so. Your opinions are clear, aren't they?" as he kept trying to engage in conversation.
Park tried to persuade them, saying, "If this continues, I will learn from you and do the same. Then I might not even talk with the party leader. I might not talk with our lawmakers. Then what happens to you? The party splits in two. How can a divided party replace the government and save the people and their livelihoods?"
When a Gaeddal supporter said, "You just need to shut your mouth," he raised his voice, saying, "That's not it. Isn't that what Yoon Seok-yeol (President) tells us? Telling workers to shut up? But should we talk like that even among our own party members and supporters?"
At the end of the video, Park appealed, "To those who call and attack the party's non-mainstream members like me a subak, please refrain from hate, attacks, and division within the party," adding, "Instead of one-sided abusive messages, please request meetings. Criticizing from hiding, refusing dialogue, and insulting is not the way of the Democratic Party. I will be waiting for your contact." Recently, through SNS, Park also extended a hand to Gaeddal, saying, "To move away from salt farm politics and head out to the sea, we must first talk and keep talking."
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