Jeong Cheong-rae "The media should not interfere with the opposition... It is a matter for the Democratic Party to decide"
Jo Su-jin responds "Regarding harsh remarks, Rep. Jeong is qualified"
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The ruling and opposition parties engaged in a tense exchange over the vacant position of the Chairperson of the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee. When Jeong Cheong-rae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, retorted to the opposition by saying, "Would the sky fall if I take the chairperson position?" Jo Su-jin, a member of the People Power Party, sarcastically responded, "You will be a strength to the powerless People Power Party."
On the 19th, Jeong wrote on his Facebook, "Is there a National Assembly law that says Jeong Cheong-rae cannot be the chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee?" adding, "The media is making such a fuss, so I am just saying something."
He continued, "Are you afraid that I will carry out media reform if I become the chairperson? Will the People Power Party suffer a big loss?" and pointed out, "If the Democratic Party decides logically, it should be settled within the party, not for the media and the People Power Party to interfere."
Earlier, on the 16th, Yoon Ho-jung, a Democratic Party member who was the chairperson of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, was elected as the new floor leader, leaving the chairperson position vacant. Amid this, it has been reported that Jeong is being mentioned as a potential successor to Yoon. It is customary within the party to decide the standing committee chairpersons based on seniority and age, and Jeong, a three-term lawmaker, is currently the top candidate.
So Su-jin, a member of the People Power Party, is questioning at the National Assembly inspection on October 19 last year, held by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, regarding the prosecution offices under the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office and Suwon High Prosecutors' Office. / Photo by Yonhap News
Regarding this, Jeong said, "Isn't it the same as the media and the People Power Party interfering by saying who can or cannot be the Democratic Party floor leader, or who would cause a big problem if they become the party leader?" and added, "I will respect the party's decision."
He also said, "I have always put the party before personal interests. If the party tells me to do something, I do it; if not, I don't. I have already said I will not avoid it. I do not raise my hand saying 'me, me,' but I will not avoid the difficult path," emphasizing again.
In response, Jo wrote on her Facebook the same day, sarcastically criticizing, "'Jeong Cheong-rae as the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chairperson' will be a strength to the currently powerless People Power Party."
Jo claimed, "As an opposition party member of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, I look forward to 'Jeong Cheong-rae as chairperson.' It does not seem like the People Power Party will suffer a loss. Even from the perspective of his harsh remarks, Jeong is 'qualified' as Yoon's successor."
She added, "During his time as a party supreme council member, Jeong caused controversy with harsh remarks such as accusing a 'senior' of threatening to resign," and pointed out, "He wrote posts like 'Myungbakbakmyeong (thin life),' meaning 'hurry up and die,' directed at the sitting president, and 'The changed one (Park Geun-hye) should vacate the room,' meaning the sitting president should step down."
She also criticized, "When the Democratic Party even involved An Jung-geun, a Korean independence activist, in the allegations of preferential military leave for the son of the Minister of Justice, Jeong took the lead by saying, 'Is it a request if you ask for kimchi stew quickly?'"
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
