Key Facts
• In 2017, Moon Jae-in’s first Chief of Staff, Im Jong-seok, was 51 years old.
• Im was significantly younger than Park Geun-hye’s Chiefs of Staff, born in 1939 and 1942.
• Democratic Party members use familial terms like ‘brother’ and ‘sister’ in private settings.
• These titles originated from student movements and civic organizations over 20 years ago.
• In 2004, leftist lawmakers and aides lived together under a ‘communal living’ concept.
• Conservative opposition party members maintain formal, hierarchical relationships.
• Former President Yoon Suk-yeol avoided formalities, using casual terms in close relationships.
• Recent reports revealed Democratic Party officials using ‘brother’ and ‘sister’ in mobile messages.
• Critics argue the party shifted from an ‘ideological community’ to a ‘profit-driven community.’
• Allegations include insider trading and nepotism within the Democratic Party.
• The Democratic Party’s informal culture contrasts with the conservative People’s Power Party.
• The People’s Power Party is described as treating politics as a secondary profession.
Summary
The Democratic Party of Korea has a unique culture of addressing colleagues with familial terms like ‘brother’ and ‘sister,’ rooted in decades of student activism and civic movements. This informal tradition contrasts sharply with the conservative People’s Power Party, which adheres to formal hierarchies. While fostering camaraderie, the Democratic Party’s culture has faced criticism for evolving into a ‘profit-driven community,’ with allegations of nepotism and insider trading. Recent revelations of officials using these terms in private messages highlight the persistence of this tradition, even as the party faces scrutiny for its governance practices.
