Kim Eun-kyung slapped with a 'photo slap' while visiting senior citizens... Opposition party makes all-out effort to quell ageism controversy (Comprehensive)

Kim Eun-kyung "I Apologize... Will Be More Careful with My Words in the Future"
Kim Ho-il, Elderly Association President, Expresses Anger Over Kim's 'Photo Slap'
On Demand for Innovation Committee Chair's Resignation... "That's a Different Issue," He Dismisses

"Representing the 10 million elderly people in our country, I feel like I need to hit the photo just to relieve the anger of the elderly."

Kim Ho-il, president of the Korea Senior Citizens Association, struck the photo of Kim Eun-kyung, Innovation Committee Chair of the Democratic Party of Korea, five times. This happened on the 3rd, five days after Kim Chairwoman sparked controversy over belittling the elderly with her remarks on 'life-sustaining proportional voting,' when she officially apologized and visited the Senior Citizens Association. Kim said, "I couldn't sleep last night," adding, "Since I shouldn't resort to physical violence, I will at least slap the photo on the cheek."

On that day, Kim Ho-il urged Kim Eun-kyung to voluntarily resign. However, Kim Eun-kyung effectively refused, saying, "That is a different matter." In response, Kim Ho-il strongly criticized her, saying, "Overall, I think you are not qualified," and "Your belittling remarks about the elderly did not come out of nowhere; that is your ideology."

Earlier, Kim Eun-kyung held a press conference in front of the Democratic Party headquarters that morning, saying, "I apologize for the controversy caused by my remarks at the youth roundtable last Sunday," and "I will be more cautious in my future statements to prevent such situations."

She then visited the Senior Citizens Association and expressed her apologies to Kim Ho-il, saying, "I am sorry for causing you pain."

The Democratic Party's floor leadership also put all efforts into calming the situation. Park Kwang-on, the floor leader, met with Kim Ho-il and others at the Korea Senior Citizens Association that morning, saying, "Sometimes, unintended hurtful remarks come out from the Democratic Party, which is embarrassing and regrettable for us," repeatedly conveying the party's apology.

Kim Eun-kyung, Chairperson of the Innovation Committee of the Democratic Party of Korea, apologized for derogatory remarks about the elderly after meeting with Chairman Kim Ho-il at the Central Association of the Korean Senior Citizens Association in Yongsan on the 3rd.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Park added, "We will take responsibility and do our best to resolve issues such as implants and artificial tears (expanding health insurance coverage) mentioned by President Kim," and "We will discuss related bills thoroughly with the party leader."

Earlier, Han Byung-do, chair of the party's Strategic Planning Committee, and Lee Hae-sik, deputy secretary-general of organization affairs, visited the Korea Senior Citizens Association the previous afternoon to convey the party's apology. Subsequently, Democratic Party lawmaker Yang Yi-won-young also visited the association, apologizing for "using words that caused misunderstandings," and explained, "Everyone has the democratic right to vote with one person, one vote, and no one denies that."

Kim Eun-kyung sparked controversy on the 30th of last month during a youth roundtable by saying, "Why should those with a short future have a one-on-one vote with young people?" On the 1st, lawmaker Yang Yi-won-young introduced Kim's remarks on Facebook, writing, "Who you vote for now determines the future," and "But many of those voting now will not even be alive in that future," fueling criticism.