According to the Internet Kookim Ilbo, Chung gave an interview to the paper's video journalism team held following a press conference at Daegu's Grand Hotel last Friday. When asked if he would like to say something to young eligible voters, many of whom are uninterested in politics, he said, "Young people were at the center of the candlelight demonstrations, and the future will be the stage of those in their 20s and 30s."

Uri Party head Chung Dong-young apologizes for his disparaging remarks about eligible voters above the age of 60, at a retirement home in Jangheung, Jeolla Province, on Thursday afternoon.

Jeong continued, "To take this a step further, there is no need for people [in their 60s and 70s] to decide about the future, because they'll probably retire from the stage soon... Those people may rest at home, or to put this another way, for people in their 20s and 30s, what they decide on now decides the future, so their interests are at stake ."

The Internet Kookmin Ilbo said the statements were discovered Wednesday night during the course of editing the interview's film footage. The paper put the full statement and the video up on its website.

With his statements becoming an issue, Chung, who is currently visiting South Jeolla Province, stopped by a senior citizens center in Jangheung County and bowed deeply to the old folks there. He said, "I, too, take care of an 83 year old mother; how could I be so disrespectful?" He added, "I said what I said while trying to encourage young people to vote because voter turnout among people in their 20s and 30s is low. I beg your forgiveness. I was wrong."

Grand National Party spokeswoman Jun Yeo-ok said, "People in their 60s and 70s are the people who built our country's economy into what it is now, and they've become stepping stones for the younger generation. Can a person with the title of chairman of the ruling party actually stir up generational tensions like this?" She added, "I want to ask if Chung speaks to his own parents in the same manner, too." Castigating Chung, she said, "This was more than a simple slight against the elderly; it was rudeness and debasement directed at our living history and those who have contributed to our society."

(Pak Du-shik dspark@chosun.com )