Women's groups said Jung Chung-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Ha Jung-woo, former presidential senior secretary for AI future planning, lacked a gender-sensitive perspective after they told a first-grade elementary school girl to try saying "oppa."
Korea Women's Associations United said in a commentary on the 5th, "In social relationships, the title 'oppa' has been criticized as a symbol of a male-centered power structure that keeps women in a subordinate position in Korea's patriarchal society," and added, "The remark in a public space telling a member of the future generation and a voter-citizen to call someone 'oppa' clearly reveals the absence of a gender-sensitive perspective."
The group went on, "At the center of the controversy and criticism are the ruling party's leader and the Democratic Party of Korea," adding, "As a politician, Leader Jung must face up to the issue with the remark and recognize more gravely the social responsibility that a politician's words carry in public spaces." It continued, "The Democratic Party of Korea should take this incident as an opportunity to clearly recognize the absence of a gender-sensitive perspective and examine perceptions and practices within the party."
Criticism is also pouring in from the opposition, including the People Power Party. Sung Il-jong of the People Power Party wrote on Facebook, "As a father with a daughter, I cannot stay silent," adding, "It is truly embarrassing to see 62-year-old Leader Jung Chung-rae and 50-year-old candidate Ha Jung-woo forcing a first-grade elementary school girl to 'try calling him oppa.'"
Earlier, on the 3rd at Gupo Market in Busan, while campaigning with former senior secretary Ha, who is running in the Buk-gu Gap by-election, Leader Jung met a child and asked, "What grade are you in?" then said, "This is Jung-woo oppa. Try saying oppa." Candidate Ha also said, "Oppa." The two then took a commemorative photo with the child.
As the remark sparked controversy, Leader Jung issued a statement that day, saying, "Regarding the situation during the visit to Gupo Market, I apologize to the child who will have been hurt and the child's parents, as the child became the center of controversy." Candidate Ha also said in a statement, "In the process of meeting local residents, the child became the center of controversy," adding, "I offer an apology to the child and the parents, who will have been hurt."