Democratic Party: "This is not an issue to end with an apology... Resign"
People Power Party: "We will observe considering various circumstances"
Jang Ye-chan, the People Power Party candidate nominated for Suyeong District in Busan, is facing continuous embarrassment due to his past offensive remarks. The People Power Party is also deeply concerned.
This time, controversy arose over a post Jang wrote in 2012 encouraging support for a Christian organization. At the time, he wrote, "I have decided to make an additional donation to spend some useless money more confidently," and "Men can support several people if they go to a room salon once instead of twice. Women should stop buying so many handbags," which became the source of the problem.
Previously, in 2014, he was criticized for writing, "A healthy society would be one where people who enjoy orgies every night and, if they look pretty, regardless of being male or female, even if they are flirtatious, are respected as professionals if they show expertise and responsibility in their duties." Also, in 2012, he targeted Seoul citizens by writing, "I wonder if, in terms of civic consciousness and cultural level, they can even come close to 'the dirt under a Japanese person's fingernails.'"
In addition, remarks such as "I want to blow up the animal hospital on the first floor of the office. I wish all animals on Earth except those used for food would disappear," "College students who whine about the cost of textbooks are the most pathetic," and "The pretty boat docked by the river is actually a shop selling marijuana, which makes the Netherlands even more lovable among various European countries," have also come under scrutiny one after another.
In response, Jang said, "I was in my twenties with many complaints about politics and society and a lot I wanted to say, but I did not know how to refine my expressions. At the time, I did not think that people other than close friends would see my Facebook posts," adding, "I am very ashamed and sorry for my words and actions in my early to mid-twenties. No matter how young I was, I regret 10 or 100 times that I was not more cautious and mature."
In response, the Women's Committee and Youth Committee of the Busan Democratic Party held a press conference on the 13th and pointed out that "he should apologize to the public not just with an apology but by withdrawing his candidacy."
Concerns deepened within the party as well. Jang Dong-hyuk, Secretary-General of the People Power Party, said regarding Jang's repeated offensive remarks, "We will observe while considering the content of the statements, the problematic points, how they are perceived by the public, the candidate's position on the reports, and various circumstances."
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