Ahead of the June 3 local elections, an "avoid Suncheon" phenomenon is emerging among Democratic Party candidates in South Jeolla Province — the party's traditional stronghold — rivaling the "avoid Jang Dong-hyuk" trend seen among People Power Party candidates.
Son Hoon-mo, a preliminary candidate for Suncheon mayor, is facing what critics call a "comprehensive corruption gift set," including allegations of accepting bribes. Compounding the situation, Democratic Party Rep. Kim Moon-soo, whose constituency includes Suncheon, sparked nationwide outrage among civil servants with his "flunky" remark.
As of Monday, the video clip of Rep. Kim's disparaging remark about civil servants, made at a local event, continues to spread like a meme, with the fallout widening.
On Friday, while attending the "Cucumber Day" event hosted by the Nakan Cucumber Horticultural Cooperative in Suncheon, Rep. Kim shocked attendees during a conversation by saying, "If you want to be a flunky, you should become a civil servant." The roughly five-second video clip has been circulating through local YouTube channels and social media.
"Ttakkari" (flunky) is a derogatory slang term for someone who runs errands, and critics say the expression was inappropriate.
As the controversy grew, Rep. Kim issued an apology through his Facebook account, but the criticism has yet to subside.
Not only Suncheon city officials but also ordinary citizens have been posting a string of sarcastic comments mocking the "flunky" remark.
"Did we take civil service exams to be your (lawmakers') flunkies? Aren't you afraid of a flunkies' revolt?" Such comments from the Suncheon civil service community and citizens alike have turned the remark into an object of ridicule.
Rep. Kim's troublemaking behavior does not stop there. Amid the impeachment crisis, he was the only Democratic Party lawmaker to travel to the United States, and his subsequent apology letter was reportedly ghostwritten. He also stirred controversy during the presidential election period with remarks demeaning women.
Analysts say Rep. Kim's erratic conduct has left Suncheon in a position where, despite holding the Democratic Party's nomination, candidates must campaign separately in a "every candidate for themselves" election rather than as "one team."
