"Trash, You Guys" Controversy Over Yusi-min's Remarks Criticizing 2030 Men

Criticism Targeting 2030 Male Community 'Femco'
Lee's Camp Clicks 'Like' on Supportive Comments

Former Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Chairman Yoo Si-min has sparked controversy by broadly criticizing the 2030 young male generation while discussing the judicial risks faced by Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. Yoo's remarks drew sharp criticism from the ruling party, which accused him of treating young men as potential perpetrators.

Former Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Chairman Yoo Si-min has sparked controversy by broadly criticizing the 2030 young male generation during a discussion about the judicial risks faced by Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.
[Photo source=YouTube channel 'Saram Saneun Sesang Roh Moo-hyun Foundation']

According to political circles on the 26th, Heo Eun-ah, a member of the People Power Party, posted an article titled "To the former liberal writer Yoo Si-min who insults young men" on her Facebook page on the 25th. In the post, Heo stated, "The government that you, as a 'state-serving intellectual,' fervently supported has treated young men as 'potential perpetrators' and 'anachronistic misogynists.' Expecting people to vote for such a party after such a disgraceful insult is shameless," she pointed out.

Heo continued, "Looking back on the youth who once threw Molotov cocktails is despairing," adding, "In an era of socioeconomic decline, hyper-competition becoming normalized, and online culture becoming part of daily life, you erase all these contexts at once. Moreover, as a generation that contributed to these times, instead of expressing regret, you lecture us with such paternalistic arrogance, which is astonishing."

She also said, "Young people today are asking about freedom," and added, "They corrected everyday language, and if one did not comply, they were immediately condemned as misogynists. This extended into the cultural realm, devastating freedom of expression, and the forces responsible for this were judged."

Heo then delivered a sharp rebuke, saying, "This is why young people call you 'brain-rotten men' (Noesseoknam)."

'Yoo Si-min reveals blatant dissatisfaction with the '2030 male generation'

According to political circles on the 26th, Heo Eun-ah, a member of the People Power Party, posted an article titled "To the Former Liberal Writer Yoo Si-min Who Insults Young Men" on her Facebook on the 25th.
[Photo by Heo Eun-ah, Member of the National Assembly, People Power Party Facebook]

On the 22nd, Yoo Si-min openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the '2030 male generation' while discussing Lee Jae-myung, who was about to undergo a warrant hearing, during the '1st Anniversary Public Broadcast of the Roh Moo-hyun Citizen Center.' He said, "I want to speak to the 2030 young men. You bear a significant part of the responsibility for this situation." He also did not hesitate to make remarks that could incite gender conflict, saying, "The 2030 female voters did their part sufficiently in the last presidential election."

Yoo specifically singled out 'FM Korea' (Femco), a community mainly used by men in their twenties and thirties, saying, "The answer is not to engage with them," and added, "During the last presidential election, Democratic politicians tried to engage in dialogue with places like Femco, but it didn't work. Why bother with useless efforts?"

He further said, "Why waste part of your life swimming in a trash can?" and emphasized, "You might think, 'Are you calling us trash?' I want to tell you, 'Yes, you are trash.'"

Finally, Yoo said on the broadcast, "Put Lee Jae-myung in jail. If you really want to, threaten the judges behind the scenes or do whatever it takes to imprison him," and added, "Do you think you will win by doing that? He won't die, but do you think everything will end if Lee Jae-myung dies?"

Criticism arises even within the Democratic Party

Former Director Yoo specifically pointed out "FM Korea" (Fem Korea), a community mainly used by men in their 20s and 30s, saying "The answer is not to engage with them." He added, "During the last presidential election, Democratic Party politicians tried to have conversations on places like Fem Korea, but it didn't work. Why bother with pointless efforts?"
[Photo by YouTube channel 'People Living World Roh Moo-hyun Foundation']

Criticism of Yoo Si-min's remarks has also emerged within the Democratic Party. Kwon Ji-woong, a young Democratic politician and former emergency committee member, strongly criticized Yoo on the same day during a CBS radio interview, saying, "Yoo Si-min's criticism of young men is utterly nonsensical," and asked, "How can the older generation with considerable authority blame the people who exercised their voting rights?"

Kwon added, "This will not lead people who voted for President Yoon Seok-youl and later regretted it to turn to the Democratic Party, but rather to turn their backs on the Democratic Party again," and urged, "Stop blaming those who do not like you."

On communities mainly used by men in their twenties and thirties, including 'Femco,' posts criticizing and mocking Yoo Si-min's remarks have been posted. One netizen commented on Yoo's remarks, saying, "As a representative of the 'Sweet Han-nam' (Sweet Korean men), he wants to appear as an attractive opposite sex to young women with all kinds of sweet words and actions, but to young men, he imposes harsh standards, saying 'Back in my day,' like a 586 older brother."