Candidates vying for leadership positions within the Democratic Party engaged in a fiery exchange during a televised debate on October 3rd. The discussion, held at the OBS studio in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, saw contenders trading sharp accusations and employing contentious rhetoric, including terms like “bat” and “Ilbe culture.” The debate highlighted deep divisions among factions within the party as they articulated their visions and criticized opponents.
Intense Exchanges Over Political Stance and Strategy
One of the focal points of the debate was the interpretation of “self-politics” and the appropriate approach to party collaboration. Han Min-soo, a candidate aligned with the pro-Cheonggye faction, questioned the basis of opponents’ claims of engaging in “self-politics.” He stated, “I wish they would provide grounds for what they claim as self-politics, especially when making statements that are simply unacceptable regarding the current administration’s collaboration efforts.” Han emphasized that attacking colleagues is counterproductive and undesirable.
Choi Min-hee, another candidate, directed her criticism towards the party leader candidate, Kim Min-seok. She questioned whether his past remarks, such as stating “the party leader is romantic” during his time as floor leader, constituted “self-politics.” Another candidate echoed this sentiment, expressing doubt about the appropriateness of the party leader’s statements, noting, “I have never seen the current floor leader travel the country for the purpose of national public relations.” This exchange underscored a debate about leadership style and the perception of prioritizing personal ambition over party unity.
Clash Over “Ilbe Culture” Accusations
A significant portion of the debate revolved around accusations of “Ilbe culture,” a term often associated with extremist online communities in South Korea. Kim Yong, a candidate from the pro-Myeong faction, directly challenged Choi Min-hee, asking her to clarify her earlier statement labeling certain party members’ remarks as “Ilbe culture” during a joint policy seminar. Kim Yong demanded, “Respond to why you characterized the party leader’s remarks as ‘Ilbe culture.'”
Choi Min-hee responded by defining “Ilbe culture” in the context of the debate. She explained, “I referred to the act of those advocating for ‘new Lee Jae-myung’ holding a National Assembly seminar, boasting about former Presidents Moon Jae-in and Roh Moo-hyun and their successors, and the verbal abuse and threats that occurred behind the scenes at the general meeting, as “Ilbe culture.” She further pressed, “If that is not ‘Ilbe culture,’ then what is it?”
Kim Yong-ho, another candidate, then accused Choi Min-hee of calling him a “bat.” He stated, “When I was active, Representative Choi Min-hee called me a ‘bat.’ This is precisely ‘Ilbe culture,’ and I find it deeply unpleasant and feel a sense of physical discomfort.” He condemned the use of such language.
Choi Min-hee clarified her statement, explaining that her remark was not a public accusation but a private, hushed comment expressing a concern: “I said in a small voice, ‘What if it becomes like this?’ It was captured on video.” She offered an apology if the remark was conveyed to him, stating, “If it was conveyed to you, I apologize.” Kim Yong, however, insisted that such expressions should be avoided regardless of whether they are public or private. “Whether it’s a thought or a word, whether heard or not, such expressions are indicative of ‘Ilbe culture’ ingrained in one’s being,” he asserted, maintaining his criticism.
Background of the “Ilbe Culture” Controversy
The “Ilbe culture” controversy initially surfaced on October 1st during a joint policy seminar in the Chungcheong region. Choi Min-hee had stated, in response to a perceived insult directed at Jung Cheong-rae, that “Ilbe culture has infiltrated even the joint seminars of the party leadership.” She vowed to “eradicate the Ilbe culture that has infiltrated the party,” sparking considerable debate.
Disagreements on Accountability and Past Conduct
Further friction arose concerning the endorsement of Kim Min-seok’s succession to the party leadership. Lee Sung-yoon, a candidate from the pro-Cheonggye faction, questioned the propriety of this endorsement. Im Mi-ae posed a direct question, asking, “The facts have been revealed through the public release of CCTV footage. Do you have any intention of issuing a public apology?” Lee maintained his original stance on the matter.
Park Sun-won addressed the issue of declining support among young voters. He attributed the decline to a controversy surrounding a legislator’s daughter’s wedding congratulatory money last year. Park stated, “Young people started to speak out after the controversy over the congratulatory money at one legislator’s daughter’s wedding last year. We must reflect on our greedy behavior.”
Choi Min-hee refuted this, responding, “I accept the criticism painfully, but I have never sent an invitation to any elder or senior official.” This was in response to an implied connection to the wedding controversy.
Additionally, Kim Yong brought up an incident involving a candidate who claimed to have used their own handkerchief to stop bleeding during the late President Roh Moo-hyun’s visit to a Gaderkdo. Kim Yong stated, “It is unacceptable for someone present at the scene to misrepresent facts while claiming loyalty.” He urged the “Team Jung Cheong-rae” members to engage in political activities that resonate with the public. Kim also insisted that a public apology should be issued if the facts are indeed different from what was stated.
Conclusion
The televised debate for the Democratic Party’s leadership positions revealed significant internal tensions and differing perspectives on key issues. The use of strong language and accusations, particularly concerning “Ilbe culture” and “self-politics,” highlighted the competitive and often contentious nature of the race. Candidates clashed over strategy, past conduct, and accountability, underscoring the challenges the party faces in unifying its factions as it moves forward.
