Kim Minseok and Song Younggil Attack Jeong Cheongrae over "Managerial Incompetence, Disharmony" in Jeju Regional Primaries

Second Week of the National Convention’s Regional Primary in Jeju

Kim Minseok: "I Will Bring Primary Disputes Down to Zero"

Jeong Cheongrae: "I Will Uphold Loyalty to the Party and the President"

Song Younggil: "I Will Complete Judicial Reform"

On August 8, with the start of the second week of the Democratic Party of Korea's August 17 national convention regional primaries, party leader candidates Kim Minseok, Jeong Cheongrae, and Song Younggil went head to head in Jeju Island.

During a joint speech event held at Heritage Jeju that morning, both Kim and Song emphasized ending internal party conflicts and promoting unity, while also launching attacks targeting candidate Jeong. In contrast, Jeong countered the attacks against him by invoking the ‘underdog’ frame to appeal to party members and repeatedly raised the issue of Kim’s alleged “betrayal.”

In his speech, Kim stated, “If elected leader, I will begin earnest efforts to bring all internal primary disputes within the party down to zero.” He continued, “I will broaden the party in a solid way and unite all capable forces—conservative, progressive, and centrist—under one banner.” He also stressed the need for “normalizing the structure of party membership,” pledging to address issues of dual party membership, non-voluntary enrollments, and so-called “ghost” party members to promote party unity.

Kim further criticized Jeong for having abruptly announced and subsequently failed to merge with the Reform Party during his previous tenure as leader, calling it “a bombshell declaration that derailed the discussions.” He added, “I will also initiate discussions on coexistence, unity, and cooperation with the Reform Party. The procedures will be democratic, the process deliberative, and the outcome will be the most positive for the Democratic Party, the Reform Party, and the entire democratic coalition.”

Yonhap News Agency

Also on X (formerly Twitter), Kim pointed out that it only recently became known that a member community data leak occurred under Jeong’s leadership, saying, “The fact that it’s been a year is a problem, the fact that there are over 10,000 affected is a problem, and the truth still being unclear is a problem. Managerial incompetence must be addressed.”

Jeong rebuffed Kim’s emphasis on unity by saying, “Is the real essence of this convention the unholy alliance of anti-Myung, divisionists, and Shincheonji supporters? Are you just covering it up?” He called Kim’s position “brazen.”

Jeong added, “At the very least, you should apologize for raising the Shincheonji suspicion before talking about future unity. If you become leader, Assemblyman Kim Minseok should verify through a party ethics investigation that Shincheonji has no connection to the Democratic Party.”

Jeong strongly countered claims from Kim’s camp that if he were elected, President Lee Jaemyung would enter a lame-duck period, calling such concerns “false agitation,” “smear tactics,” and “nonsense.”

Jeong once again recalled the “Candidate Unification Council” (HUDANHYEOP) controversy of 2002, saying, “When it comes to loyalty to the party and President Lee, it’s not Kim Minseok but Jeong Cheongrae who will uphold it.” He pleaded with party members, “I have taken a beating, two-on-one, three-on-one, four-on-one, bleeding profusely, with nothing but faith in the members to keep me going. Please protect Jeong Cheongrae.”

Song, meanwhile, aimed at former leader Jeong, questioning, “With ongoing disharmony between the party and government constantly on the front page, how can we possibly win the general election while leaving the president so isolated?”

Referring to Jeong’s recent act of honoring former President Roh Moo-hyun by saying, “Only when the flowers have fallen did I know it had been spring,” Song cautioned that, “Now that Lee Jaemyung is gone, we must not shed tears again realizing only now that it was spring.”

Song also advocated completing ‘judicial reform’ through the impeachment of Chief Justice Cho Heedae. He stated, “Chief Justice Cho has received recommendations for four Supreme Court justices but has not submitted them for nomination for half a year. Prosecutorial reform is complete, and I, Song Younggil, will finish judicial reform.”

The candidates also highlighted the spirit of the Jeju 4·3 Incident. Kim said, “It is our historical mission, here together, to show that the era of derogation against Jeju in Korea can come to an end.”

Jeong began his speech by singing musician An Chi-hwan’s “The South That Will Never Sleep,” which was inspired by the Jeju 4·3 Incident.

Song, a native of the Honam region, said, “The tragic history that Jeju and Gwangju share is one in which, even after suffering due to state violence, people could not even let out sorrowful cries because of the further discrimination and disdain that followed. That history of pain is deeply etched in me as well.”

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