Yoo Si-min's Remarks on "Kim Moon-soo's Spouse Seol Nanyeong" Spark Controversy... Will It Hurt the Democratic Party? [One Comment Shaking the Presidential Race]

Yoo Si-min, Former Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Chairman,
Harsh Criticism on Kim Eo-jun's YouTube Channel
Strong Backlash from People Power Party, Reform New Party, and Broad Conservative Bloc

Former Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Chairman Yoo Si-min commented on Seol Nanyeong, the spouse of People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo, stating, "Candidate Kim, as a 'hakchul' worker?a laborer who was formerly a university student?married a 'real worker' (Mrs. Seol). One can imagine what that relationship might be like." Not only the People Power Party but also Lee Jun-seok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party, have criticized Yoo's remarks as inappropriate. Yoo is known for supporting Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate. Both the People Power Party and the Reform New Party have called on the Democratic Party and candidate Lee Jae-myung to clarify their positions.

On the night of May 28, Yoo appeared on the pro-Democratic YouTube program "Kim Eo-jun's Dasboeida," which was released publicly. He referred to Mrs. Seol's recent criticism of allegations that Lee Jae-myung's spouse, Kim Hye-kyung, misused a corporate credit card, saying, "I can understand why Mrs. Seol is acting this way." He added, "Mrs. Seol was the head of the union at Sejin Electronics, and candidate Kim Moon-soo was the head of the union at Hanil Doruko. Candidate Kim, as a 'hakchul' worker?a laborer who was formerly a university student?married a 'real worker.'"

His remarks were directed at Mrs. Seol, who, after graduating from Suncheon Girls' High School, moved to Seoul to participate in the labor movement and later married Kim Moon-soo, who graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in business administration and was part of the first generation of university students who secretly took blue-collar jobs. Yoo also claimed, "It is a marriage with such an extraordinary man that it is almost unbalanced," and "The position of a presidential candidate's spouse is a place that Seol Nanyeong could never reach in her own life."

The People Power Party has launched a full-scale attack, arguing that Yoo has revealed pre-modern notions of social class and marriage, as well as a lowly elitist mindset, and is therefore unqualified to invoke the spirit of Roh Moo-hyun. Kim Ki-hyun, co-chair of the election committee, also pointed out on Facebook that "it is truly lamentable to see leftist figures who regard women not as independent individuals but as mere appendages subordinated to their husbands." Candidate Lee Jun-seok also criticized Yoo on Facebook, stating, "To judge and attack Mrs. Seol's life, without any allegations of wrongdoing, based solely on her relationship with her husband or her academic background, exposes Yoo Si-min's distorted views on women and his class-based thinking."