Han Jeongae: Kim Minseok Choked Up at "Making Things Difficult for the Party"... Appeared to Decide After Considering What Was Best for the Party

Appears on Democratic Party TV's YouTube channel
Explains background to Kim Minseok's apology
Says efforts to amend the Political Parties Act and other laws are needed

Han Jeongae, secretary-general of the Democratic Party of Korea, said that Kim Min-seok’s apology over his claim during the party convention that anti-Myung factions, divisive elements and Shincheonji had formed a “three-way secret alliance” seemed to be the result of considering “what would ultimately be best for the party.” She described it as a decision aimed at unifying the party and shifting its focus to people’s livelihoods and the budget session.

Han appeared on “Minty 07” on the Democratic Party’s official YouTube channel, Democratic Party TV, on the 4th and shared her thoughts on the circumstances and reasons behind Kim’s apology the previous day. According to a briefing by Kim Seong-hoe, the party’s floor spokesperson, Kim said at a closed-door parliamentary caucus meeting the previous day, “The investigation found no evidence of a three-way secret alliance,” and “I would like to express my sincere apologies to anyone who may have been harmed, even unintentionally.”

Han Jeongae, secretary-general of the Democratic Party of Korea. Yonhap News Agency

Han gave a detailed account of what happened at the caucus meeting. Describing Kim’s decision to apologize as a “resolve,” she said he came forward saying, “I’ll go first,” and began by saying, “I am very inadequate.” She said his words conveyed regret that, despite wanting to lead the party well as its leader, he had found himself in a difficult situation.

“I think the sincerity of what Kim said came across to the lawmakers,” Han said, describing the mood as one in which the lawmakers responded to Kim’s proposal without further discussion, saying, “Let’s do that.”

Asked about reports that Kim became emotional while speaking, Han said he became choked up on the word “difficult” as he said, “This situation itself seems to be making things difficult for the party.”

Asked whether Kim intended to bring the conflict to a close so the party could move on to the budget session, Han said, “I think that was a major part of his thinking.” She surmised that senior lawmakers might have said something to the effect that, even if they worked hard to support President Lee Jae-myung, it would be difficult to reach every corner of people’s lives, and that the party should not be acting this way. However, Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Cheong-rae, who faced off against Kim at the party convention, said immediately after the caucus meeting, “I hope he will come out publicly and apologize to party members, rather than hiding behind a closed-door caucus meeting to say he is sorry.”

The previous day, the Democratic Party decided to allow lawmakers to review the findings of its investigation into Shincheonji members joining the party individually, rather than fully disclosing them at the caucus meeting. “Some may feel they need to know in order to manage their districts, so we said they would be allowed to review the findings,” Han said. “I think I, as secretary-general, will ultimately have to oversee the review process.”

She noted, “It is true that we believe there are a considerable number of people who are Shincheonji followers. We have not confirmed the total number or individual names, but we do have some figures when the members are broken down by district committee.”

She also said the party was considering legislative action in response. “Dual party membership is an issue faced by all political parties,” Han said, adding that “there are party members who joined as a group or involuntarily, and exist only as names on a list.” She continued, “It would be impossible to regulate cases in which people join as a group to create problems or pursue their own goals, as well as cases in which people join in somewhat involuntary ways, or to establish how to remove them from party membership, unless the Political Parties Act addresses these matters. The political parties need to meet, agree on the areas where they can reach consensus, and make the necessary changes.” Han said she had already raised the matter with the party membership review task force and the party reform task force, and that once the results were ready, the party would seek agreement with other political parties and make the necessary changes.

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