PPP slams Democratic lawmaker's 'bus house' idea as treating youth 'like refugees'

People Power Party chief spokesperson Park Chung-kwon on Monday criticized Democratic Party lawmaker Hwang Hee's "bus house" proposal as "a hollow idea that treats the youth — the future of South Korea — like beggars and refugees."

Park made the remarks at a press briefing at the National Assembly, saying Hwang "should sincerely apologize for the insulting remarks that caused humiliation and shame to young people, explain the background behind the idea, and prostrate himself in contrition."

Hwang had proposed on Friday converting decommissioned buses into housing units, drawing on a Dutch example from Amsterdam where old ships were remodeled into residences. The proposal drew backlash from within and outside his party, and Hwang had scheduled a press briefing around 2 p.m. Monday to offer an apology — but canceled it the same day.

Park said the "nonsensical policy of a decommissioned-bus house" reflected "an attitude problem rooted in how genuinely Hwang has engaged with the reality of youth housing and the lens through which he views it." He added that "holding a hundred press briefings is useless if that attitude and mindset are not corrected."

Park went on to say that "the very posture of trying to find an excuse and wriggle out is wrong," adding that "no proper ideas can come out until his perspective on and sincerity toward young people are set right."

He also questioned the Democratic Party's response, asking, "When an unfavorable issue blows up, the party said at the party level that it is not their policy — but is Hwang not a Democratic Party lawmaker?" Park said the party should "prostrate itself in contrition rather than cutting its tail" over a proposal made by one of its own members.