"There Are Many Handsome Older Brothers" PPP Faces 'Older Brother' Controversy... Kim Min-jeon Says, "I Meant for the Female Students to Pass Comfortably"

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[Financial News] Kim Min-jeon, a PPP lawmaker, is facing criticism after it became known that she told young teenage girls at a campaign stop for the Busan Buk-gap constituency by-election, "There are many handsome older brothers here." Kim had previously strongly criticized Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) figures over similar "older brother" remarks.
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After the report was published, Kim explained on her Facebook page that it was a "misreport" and said, "I meant it as a way to tell the girls not to be afraid and to pass by comfortably."
According to political circles on the 25th, Kim livestreamed a street campaign in Mandeok-dong, Buk District, Busan, on her YouTube channel, Kim Min-jeon TV, that day. She was there to support Park Min-sik, the PPP candidate in Busan Buk-gap constituency.
The video showed Kim and Park walking along the street, shaking hands with residents and greeting them. It then showed them speaking to a group of girls believed to be in their early teens. Park waved a V sign with his hand to indicate ballot number 2, and Kim said to the students, "Hello. There are many handsome older brothers here."
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When the students hesitated to walk past, someone at the scene told them, "Go on," in a casual tone. The girls then quickly left the area, covering their faces with their phones.
After the video spread online, criticism grew over Kim using the term "older brother" toward girls who appeared to be minors. Comments such as "Lawmaker Kim Min-jeon, I am deeply disappointed" and "Who is that handsome older brother? I'm really curious" also appeared under the video.
As the controversy intensified, Kim issued another explanation on her Facebook page that day. She said, "There were about 10 men in their 20s at the scene, and the girls could not pass by, so I told them not to be afraid and to go through comfortably." She added, "It is being written as if I called Park Min-sik 'older brother,' but that never happened."
She also said, "Some media outlets reported that I called Park Min-sik 'older brother,' but that is completely untrue," adding, "I plan to file a complaint with the press arbitration body over the false report."
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The DPK had also faced backlash over an "older brother" remark. On the 3rd, DPK leader Jung Chung-rae sparked controversy when he told an elementary school student, "Say Jung-woo oppa, say oppa," while campaigning for candidate Ha Jung-woo at Gupo Market in Buk District, Busan. Ha also responded by saying "oppa."
At the time, Jung apologized, saying, "I am sorry that the child was placed at the center of controversy and that the child and the parents were hurt." Ha also issued an apology.
However, Kim criticized Jung by saying, "Is the party leader in his 60s making 'oppa' jokes to an elementary school girl?" She also said to Ha, "Mr. Ha, who told an elementary school girl to call him oppa, have you not gone home yet?"
y27k@fnnews.com Seo Yoon-kyung Reporter