Young Man Grabs Park Jumin and Asks, "Which University Did You Attend? What Do You Think About Hotel Economics?"

Park Jumin Engages in Heated Debate with Young Man During Busan Campaign
Grabs Arm and Questions on Hotel Economics and Multiplier Effect
Man Says, "Angry as a Young Citizen, I Support No Party"

A video showing Park Jumin, a Democratic Party lawmaker, engaging in a heated argument with a man during a campaign rally in support of Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, has become a hot topic. In the "Busan campaign site video" uploaded to Park's YouTube channel "Park Jumin TV" on the 23rd, Park is seen canvassing the alleys of Gwangalli, Busan, and conversing with a young man in front of a convenience store.

A video capturing Park Jumin, a member of the Democratic Party, having a heated argument with a man in Busan has become a hot topic. YouTube Park Jumin TV

In the video, a man who identified himself as being in his twenties grabs Park's shoulder and asks, "Who are you?" When Park replied, "I'm campaigning for candidate Lee Jae Myung," the man began the conversation by asking, "But who are you?" He then pressed further, saying, "You're a member of the National Assembly and a citizen is asking you," and proceeded to question, "What do you think about hotel economics?" and "Do you know what the multiplier effect is?"

When Park answered, "The multiplier effect is about the extent of the derivative effects when money is injected," the man countered, "From what I know, that's not what the multiplier effect is." A member of Park's team then asked, "Then how do you define it?" but the man avoided giving a direct answer. He continued, "You're a member of the National Assembly, and I'm just an ordinary citizen. So who should know more about the Korean economy? Should it be me? If so, I should be the lawmaker," adding, "I'm angry as a young citizen. I don't support any particular party."

When Park explained hotel economics as "an explanation of circulation assuming the marginal propensity to consume is one," the young man replied, "I know. I've studied a lot," and added, "When you prove something, you make assumptions, but if those assumptions are wrong, everything that follows is wrong."

It was later reported that Park and the man continued their conversation alone. In a follow-up video, Park shared, "He asked me which university I graduated from, so I asked him, 'What kind of university do you think is good?' He replied, 'You should have at least graduated from Seoul National University.' So I told him, 'I graduated from Seoul National University Law School,' and then he couldn't say much after that."

Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is preparing for a political TV debate held at the MBC studio in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 27th. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

The hotel economics referenced by the man originated from an example given by candidate Lee Jae Myung during a campaign rally in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province, on the 16th. Lee explained, "When a traveler pays a 100,000 won deposit to a hotel, the hotel owner uses that money to pay off a debt at a furniture store, the furniture store owner buys chicken at a chicken restaurant, the chicken restaurant owner purchases goods at a stationery store, and the stationery store owner pays off a debt to the hotel." At the time, Lee emphasized the multiplier effect of government spending by saying, "Even if the traveler cancels the reservation, as the money circulates, the economy is revitalized."

However, Lee Jun Seok, the presidential candidate of the Reform Party, criticized this during a TV debate on the 18th, calling it "eccentric economics that claims the economy is revived just by money circulating even if the hotel reservation is canceled," and questioned, "Is it perpetual motion by assuming the marginal propensity to consume is one?" In the TV debate on the 27th, he further argued, "Hotel economics is an idea copied from a German communist, used to lecture the public." In response, Lee Jae Myung countered, "I hope you don't label everything as communist like you do with pro-North accusations," and added, "Hotel economics is an example that even appears in Bank of Korea publications."