Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok has moved to tighten discipline within the ruling party after a series of gaffes by its politicians drew public criticism. The swift response came as the party found itself under pressure from remarks that needlessly inflamed public sentiment, but Kim's own protocol controversies have added to the burden on his leadership.
According to the Democratic Party on the 20th, the party sent an official notice on the 19th under the name of Secretary General Han Jeoung-ae to provincial and metropolitan chapter heads and district chapter heads, urging public officials and senior party officials to exercise caution in their words and actions. In the notice, Han warned that violations would be dealt with strictly, asking officials to "take particular care to avoid words and actions that run counter to public sentiment."
The measure primarily responds to remarks by Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae, who drew criticism for comments such as "fiscal drain," a straw-like metaphor for draining budget funds, and "you want an apology, so here's an apology," and by lawmaker Boo Seung-chan, who said the firefighting budget "sucks up public finances." Kim issued a stern warning to Boo and ordered the central party's ethics tribunal to conduct an investigation on its own authority. Speaking on the party's YouTube channel "Minty07" on the same day, Kim said, "I offer my apologies once again," adding that "everyone, including myself, must treat our words and actions with gravity." Boo posted an apology on Facebook the same day, bowing to the criticism a day after the remarks. Floor leader Han Byung-do also apologized, saying, "We will work to live up to the public's trust by taking greater responsibility for every word and every action."
The problem is that controversies of Kim's own making have also surfaced one after another. On the 15th, Kim was criticized for "excessive protocol" after a singer's performance at the Sunchang Fermented Sauce Festival was halted so he could deliver remarks. On the 18th, a controversy arose when his accompanying vehicle used a hospital parking area reserved for emergency patients during a condolence visit for a firefighter killed in the line of duty. The Democratic Party and Kim Tae-sun, chief of staff to the party leader, apologized over the incident. Critics say Kim's own controversies over words and actions have undercut his push to restore discipline.
Another risk is that the controversies over misstatements show signs of spreading into a rift within the party. After Choo's remarks drew criticism, Democratic Party lawmakers from Gyeonggi Province held an emergency meeting, where complaints reportedly extended beyond the latest controversy to the provincial administration as a whole, including budget planning. Rep. Seo Young-suk, who heads the party's Gyeonggi Province chapter, said on MBC Radio the same day that "since the governor's 'fiscal drain' remark, there have been many strong opinions from party members, such as calls for disciplinary action or expulsion from the party." Hardline party members aligned with President Lee Jae-myung are circulating a joint petition demanding disciplinary action against Choo. A ruling bloc official said, "There is criticism of the remarks themselves, but there is also a strong element of checking Choo, who has repeatedly clashed with President Lee Jae-myung."
The People Power Party has escalated its attacks by seizing on the string of controversies. Floor leader Chung Jom-sig called for the party to "impose the highest level of disciplinary action at the party level so that such outrageous remarks never happen again," referring to Choo and Boo. The People Power Party has formed a task force on honoring firefighters' service to push for better treatment of firefighters, while continuing to highlight the Democratic Party's verbal missteps. People Power Party members of the National Assembly's Health and Welfare Committee characterized the parking controversy as a "power-based privilege" and demanded a direct apology and an explanation of the circumstances. "Priority in the emergency room is determined by severity, not by power," they said. "This principle is collapsing before the Lee Jae-myung administration and the Democratic Party."