"Those Who Didn't Applaud..." Controversy Over Regional Insult Remarks at the People Power Party Convention

Applause Author: "Are You a Spy?" "Should Jeonbuk Be Separate?"
Democratic Party Urges Prevention of Recurrence and Apology

At the People Power Party's national convention held on the 23rd at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, remarks disparaging Jeollabuk-do sparked controversy.

Han Dong-hoon, who was elected as the leader of the People Power Party, is waving the party flag at the 4th People Power Party Convention held on the 23rd at KINTEX in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On that day, Kim Byung-chan, a former KBS announcer who hosted the event, encouraged applause from party members by region, saying, "There are still quite a few people who haven't clapped yet," and added, "These people could be spies whose identities cannot be revealed." At this point, Yang Jong-ah, an election management committee member of the People Power Party's national convention, chimed in, "Jeollabuk-do? Should we do it separately?"

Kim Byung-chan, former KBS announcer, and Yang Jong-a, election management committee member of the People Power Party, are seen conducting the event at the People Power Party convention held on the 23rd at KINTEX in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do.
[Photo by JTBC YouTube channel video]

They later attempted to make amends. Before the convention ended, announcer Kim said, "I want to correct the misunderstanding that this was about regional sentiment or ranking any faction," explaining, "I meant that those who didn't clap might be from somewhere else, to generously share joy with everyone." Committee member Yang also apologized, saying, "If anyone was uncomfortable, I ask for your understanding."

However, the opposition party expressed outrage. Jang Kyung-tae, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, pointed out, "At the People Power Party's 'split convention,' remarks at the level of Ilbe finally surfaced," criticizing, "They equated and disparaged Jeonbuk residents as spies." He added, "It was completed by the coordinated hate speech of two people, not just one," and said, "We will watch how party leader Han Dong-hoon takes firm first action against these remarks that incite regionalism."

Han Jun-ho, a Democratic Party lawmaker from Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do (Gyeonggi Goyang-eul), also lamented on Facebook, "No matter how unfavorable Honam is to the People Power Party, is it acceptable to make spies a laughingstock? As a son of Honam whose hometown is Jeonju, Jeonbuk, this is deeply humiliating."

Regarding this, Democratic Party lawmakers from Jeollabuk-do held a press conference at the National Assembly demanding an official apology from the party, pointing out, "There has been a vulgar mindset that it is acceptable to disparage Jeonbuk without hesitation, and a collective and political plan to isolate Jeonbuk special autonomous province residents by othering them has become an unwritten norm within the party."

The Jeollabuk-do branch of the Party for People's Innovation issued a statement saying, "The convention slogan 'NEXT Progressive Conservatism' is still haunted by the ghost of the past calling people spies," urging party leader Han Dong-hoon to apologize.