Ko Min-jung says Starbucks ban left her 'breathless'

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Ko Min-jung cited a party-wide ban on visiting Starbucks ahead of the June 3 local elections as what prompted her to run for party leader.

She argued that the authoritarian culture of the so-called 386 generation had driven away voters in their 20s and 30s — particularly women in their 30s.

Ko made the remarks Tuesday on the YouTube program "Hwang Hyun-hee's Uncomfortable Yeouido." "A few months before the local elections, support among women in their 30s was slipping and the situation looked dangerous," she said. "Looking back at why, what stood out in my memory was the Starbucks incident." A directive had gone out telling candidates not to visit Starbucks. "The moment I heard that, I felt like I couldn't breathe," she said.

Ko said the ban struck her as deeply paternalistic. "Isn't that something the public can decide for themselves? Does the party really have the right to tell people what to do? I felt it was far too authoritarian — that there was this ingrained habit within the party of trying to lecture people," she said. She added that she had raised the issue at a meeting, saying she believed the ban was why support among women in their 30s was falling, only to be met with nodding heads and no real response.

Ko said the episode suggested the party leadership did not trust its own members or the public. "I wouldn't have gone to Starbucks myself because I personally found it uncomfortable," she said. "But I don't agree with the idea that people who drink Starbucks coffee today are somehow endorsing the disparagement of the May 18 pro-democracy movement."

Asked about the anger among younger generations over the controversy surrounding girl group RESCENE's alleged use of far-right "Ilbe" expressions — a row triggered by Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk — Ko said she shared that frustration. "The sunbae of the 386 generation keep trying to define things as right or wrong," she said. "It would be better to just accept that things are different and listen. But they pin a label on something and then immediately try to teach you about it — 'You just don't understand.' But isn't it my choice, and isn't that just how I feel?"

On relations with the Rebuilding Korea Party, however, Ko said the alliance should not be abandoned. "To win back power, we cannot afford to let go of our solidarity with the Rebuilding Korea Party," she said.

Ko acknowledged she faces an uphill battle in the leadership race. "I can't take votes away from former party leader Jung Chung-rae or former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok. I started late and the race has already taken shape," she said. "What I'm aiming for is to wake up the party members who are sleeping. I want to raise the voter turnout."