Democratic Party: "Resign Candidate Jang Ye-chan of People Power Party Who Praised 'Nangyo'"

"Is Nomination a System for Promoters of Wild Parties?" Rebuttal
Past Controversy Over Busan Derogation Too

The Democratic Party of Korea has called for the resignation of Jang Ye-chan, a former Supreme Council member who received the People Power Party's nomination for the Busan Suyeong District by-election. This is due to his past remarks that appeared to condone promiscuous sexual behavior.

Jang Ye-chan, People Power Party candidate. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the 9th, spokesperson Sun Da-wit stated in a briefing, "According to media reports, former Supreme Council member Jang posted on social media (SNS) that 'a healthy society is one where people can be respected if they demonstrate professionalism and responsibility in their duties, even if they enjoy promiscuous sex,'" and demanded, "People Power Party Emergency Response Committee Chair Han Dong-hoon should answer whether giving a nomination to someone who praises promiscuous behavior is a 'system nomination'."

This relates to Jang's 2014 Facebook post where he wrote, "Wouldn't a healthy society be one where people who enjoy promiscuous sex every night and, if they are good-looking, flirt with anyone regardless of gender, are respected as professionals if they show expertise and responsibility in their roles?"

Spokesperson Sun criticized, "It's hard to believe such words could be spoken by someone in their right mind," adding, "For such a person to want to become a member of the National Assembly representing the people shows the qualitative decline of our politics." He further urged, "Former Supreme Council member Jang should be ashamed, keep silent, and resign from his candidacy."

Regarding this, Jang Ye-chan rebutted in a phone interview with Yonhap News Agency, saying, "I did not condone inappropriate or immoral behavior; I merely expressed a political opinion that professionalism is important in politics." He also stated, "If I have to resign because of past remarks, then Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung should retire from politics first."

Last month, Jang also faced backlash over past derogatory remarks about Busan. In a Facebook post titled 'I Like Busan' from July 2015, he described Busan and its citizens as "uncultured and rough people, emotionally volatile drivers, city roads designed by a madman, and the aunts at the fish market who only talk about doing well," sparking controversy over disparaging Busan.

In response, the Democratic Party said, "It is deeply concerning that someone who wants to be a National Assembly member from Busan reveals such a vulgar perception of Busan. How can Busan citizens expect anything from a person who depicts them as abnormal and says they feel irresponsible when in Busan?"

Amid the controversy, Jang explained, "It was merely a sarcastic expression of my affectionate feelings for my hometown Busan, not a disparagement of Busan."