Kim Minseok: "It's Time to End the Myeong-Cheong Showdown"... Jeong Cheongrae: "Lee Jaemyung's Legacy Will Blossom"

Democratic Party Leadership Contest Joint Speech Session

Candidates running in the Democratic Party’s 8·17 National Convention leadership election exchanged pointed remarks and attempted to keep one another in check during the joint preliminary election speech contest held at the Central Party Office in Yeouido on the 20th.

From the front left, candidates for the Democratic Party of Korea's party leader and Supreme Council members, Kim Minseok, Ko Minjung, Chung Chung-rae, Kim Bomi, and Song Young-gil, are attending the joint preliminary speech contest for party leader and Supreme Council candidates held at the Democratic Party's Central Party Office member zone in Yeouido, Seoul on the 20th, posing for a commemorative photo. Photo by Yonhap News

Candidate Kim Minseok stated, "It's time to end the Myeong-Cheong (President Lee Jaemyung and candidate Jeong Cheongrae) showdown," and emphasized, "A party leader who causes conflict between the party and government due to personal politics and turning the party into a private organization is unacceptable. Outdated, factional vested interest politics must be rejected." He went on to argue, "Just as criticism was directed at Kim Daejung, attacks are now made on Lee Jaemyung, and just as there was instability during Roh Moo-hyun's time, some encourage division through dishonest commentary—how can we entrust the party to a leader who remains silent on such matters? The divisionist, anti-Lee Jaemyung stance must be condemned."

He further questioned, "What is the point of claiming to support Lee Jaemyung only in words?" adding, "If you defend attacks on the President and incite internal conflict, then what else is that if not anti-Lee Jaemyung and divisionist?"

Jeong Cheongrae stated, "I will further blossom the legacy of Lee Jaemyung, drawing nourishment from the history of Kim Daejung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jaein," and added, "I promise to devote everything for the sake of the nation protected by its people and for the success of the Lee Jaemyung administration. We must unite with one heart and mind, rooted in a shared spirit."

He also said, "The Democratic Party’s identity is centered on reform. I will raise the flag of reform even higher," pledging, "Together with party members, I will personally ensure the complete abolition of supplementary prosecutorial investigative rights, which is the final task in prosecutorial reform."

In response to attacks from other candidates, he said, "I will not stoop to negative campaigning or blaming others. I will use the language of comradeship," and added, "If I am attacked two-on-one or three-on-one, I will take it. However, I trust that party members will stand by me through any wounds."

Candidate Song Younggil asserted, "I have stood with Lee Jaemyung. I have risked my life and shared the years together," and promised, "Lee Jaemyung’s politics are inseparable from my own life. I will defend them and ensure their success."

Song specifically called out former leader Jeong, saying, "Although you constantly speak of reform, intentions and actual results can differ," and added, "As the ruling party, our role is to be accountable for outcomes, not to play the commentator. The party must support the Lee Jaemyung administration in delivering tangible achievements."

Candidate Ko Minjung stressed, "We cannot open the future with 'politics of division,' where we are split and pointing fingers at one another as pro-Lee, anti-Lee, pro-Seok, or pro-Cheong," adding, "First, we must reinforce our internal unity and learn to respect the diversity of opinions within our ranks."

Candidate Kim Bomi stated, "I do not belong to any faction," and added, "I will transform the Democratic Party, which has long been dominated by the 686 generation, into a party where even young people can compete fairly."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.