'I Don't Know About Politics' on Democratic Party Banner...Criticism Within the Party as "Scratching to Create Trouble"

Democratic Party "Phrases Created by External Company... We Apologize"
"Explanation Hard to Accept", "Should Apologize Clearly"

The Democratic Party of Korea is facing criticism for a banner targeting the younger generation, accused of 'belittling youth' and 'youth hatred.' Although the party explained that the phrase was created by an external company and apologized, even within the party, there are voices saying the explanation is unconvincing.

The controversial banner is a newly designed one planned by the Democratic Party ahead of next year's general election. The banner included phrases such as ▲ "Fair to me" ▲ "I don't understand politics, but I want to live well" ▲ "I don't understand the economy, but I want to have a lot of money" ▲ "You said you wanted to live alone, or was it that you wanted to be alone?" These phrases were included in an official letter sent to each city and provincial party on the 17th as part of the 'The Minjoo Galaxy Project.'

The banner was criticized for portraying the younger generation as ignorant and selfish regarding politics and the economy. On the 20th, Representative Lee Sang-min criticized in an interview with SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' saying, "It was so reckless that I wonder why such incomprehensible phrases were used," and added, "It seems to have labeled young people as people who don't know politics or the economy and only want money."

Banner design released by the Democratic Party of Korea [Image source=Provided by the Democratic Party of Korea]

As criticism grew, the Democratic Party explained that the promotional company prepared it for the campaign and that "neither party officials nor the party were involved." On the same day, Secretary-General Cho Jung-sik said at a briefing, "The curiosity-provoking advertisement was a proposal containing a bold promotional concept from an external expert, but ultimately, the party failed to carefully oversee and the execution process proceeded," adding, "It was the party's oversight, and as Secretary-General, I apologize to the public and party members."

Supreme Council Member Jang Kyung-tae explained, "To clarify the facts, it was not publicly released but was just an idea proposal example received from an external outsourcing company." On the same day on SBS Radio, Jang said, "Ahead of the election, various research services such as image transformation and PI transformation are conducted, and advice is sought from promotional marketing experts. Some examples received from outsourcing companies were released, which I think led to distorted reporting," adding, "It was not produced by the general election planning team."

Jang added, "Research services are literally conducted by research institutes, so outsourcing companies provide various examples and proposals. Since this was not a refined official press release, the problem arose from unrefined phrases being reported," and said, "In any case, we will take this as an opportunity to listen more carefully to public sentiment. I believe we must humbly accept the criticism."

However, even within the party, there are criticisms that the party's explanation that the phrases were created by an external company is unconvincing. On the 19th, Representative Lee Won-wook pointed out at the party's innovation group 'Principles and Common Sense' youth debate, "If you look at the official letter sent by the party, it shows the Secretary-General and the Public Relations Chairman Han Jun-ho," indicating that this controversy cannot be unrelated to the party.

Former Supreme Council Member Park Sung-min also appeared on BBS Radio's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal' on the 20th and said, "The current party explanation is that the phrases were prepared by an external company, not by party officials or major lawmakers, but it is difficult to accept that," adding, "If the banner was hung on the street, anyone would think it was done by the Democratic Party."

Park further said, "If they had stayed silent, it might have been resolved halfway, but by showing a backward image, they stirred up trouble," and added, "Treating young people as ignorant but selfish beings who only greedily pursue their own interests was not an appropriate approach."

Former Representative Shin Kyung-min also appeared on KBS Special Radio 1's 'Today' on the same day and said, "Party officials said a few people came out and said they had no knowledge of this and that the party was not involved, but there are already approval documents and communications to each city and provincial party," adding, "They should have apologized cleanly and withdrawn it."