Park Min-young, a People Power Party media Spokesperson, recently sparked controversy by aiming at Kim Ye-ji, a lawmaker in the same party who is visually impaired, saying it is a problem that too many people with disabilities are allocated to the proportional representation list. People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok issued a stern warning over the remark and urged caution in words and actions.
According to the political sphere on the 17th, Park appeared on a YouTube program on the 12th, saying, why is (Lawmaker Kim) trying to get nominated by the People Power Party, and added, it seems she takes it for granted to be given consideration rather than having agency as a person with a disability.
She went on, it would be good to select proportional representation candidates as experts. It is a problem that too many people with disabilities are allocated to the proportional list, adding, to be blunt, someone like Kim Ye-ji enjoys privilege except for vision discomfort. Rather, some use that limited vulnerability as a weapon.
Park also said, the one who breaks the party line the most is Kim Ye-ji. I have never seen such an ungrateful person, and added, the person who gave such a person two nominations is Han Dong-hoon. They brought in people who are hardly like people and gave them nominations.
A YouTuber who hosted the same program made crude remarks: Kim Ye-ji should consider it fortunate that she is a f---ing disabled person, and Because she is disabled and an a--hole, this is all she can do. Park burst into laughter upon hearing the YouTuber's remarks.
Afterward, Park wrote on social media (SNS), we need to break away from the stereotype of launching mindless hate campaigns at the slightest thing, and added, people with disabilities should not be overrepresented compared to other groups, and by the same token, it cannot be a reason to grant excessive special favors to certain individuals.
She continued, nevertheless, I apologize for expressions that may have sounded somewhat extreme, adding, regardless of the reason, there were remarks unbefitting the title of Spokesperson of a public political party, and the inappropriateness of the language even undermined the coherence of the content—this is entirely my fault.
As the controversy grew, the People Power Party said, Leader Jang Dong-hyeok issued a stern warning to the person involved regarding reports about media Spokesperson Park Min-young, and asked all party officials, including the spokespersons' group, to pay special attention to their words and actions.