[Comprehensive] Jeong Cheong-rae "Does the sky fall if I do it?"... Opposition "The ultimate shamelessness"

Jeong Cheong-rae, member of the Democratic Party of Korea. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Jeong Cheong-rae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea who is being mentioned as the next chairman of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee, has faced criticism from former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon and the People Power Party over his remark, "If I take charge of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, will the sky fall?"

On the 20th, Kim Geun-sik, the People Power Party’s Seoul Songpa-byeong district committee chairman, posted on Facebook, criticizing, "If Representative Jeong takes the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the hearts of the people will collapse."

Kim said, "The people have been beaten, yet they cannot come to their senses and the Democratic Party arrogantly insists on wielding the committee’s gavel as before, which breaks the hearts of the people," sharply criticizing the party.

He added, "Considering next year’s presidential election, having Jeong Cheong-rae as the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chairman might not be bad, and even if I oppose it, it probably won’t stop it," but strongly condemned, "Still, seeing Representative Jeong himself take for granted his position as chairman is disgusting."

He continued, "If you agree to respect the opposition and cooperate for the normalization of the National Assembly, it is only right to normalize the distribution of positions such as the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chairmanship in the 21st National Assembly," pointing out, "It’s like seeing the true face of false progressivism and the ultimate shamelessness, which is shocking."

On the 19th, Kim Yong-tae, the People Power Party’s Gyeonggi Gwangmyeong district committee chairman, also posted on his Facebook, saying, "After the last general election, the Democratic Party took the Legislation and Judiciary Committee chairmanship, which the opposition had mainly held as the last bulwark against the ruling party’s unilateral dominance. What kind of ‘unilateral dominance’ have we seen in the legislature since then?" and directly stated, "The sky may not fall, but the rule of law can collapse."

He also pointed out, "When public anxiety about vaccines was rising and the anger of the people was boiling over due to the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) scandal, didn’t Representative Jeong worry more about the president’s safety than the people?" and "When the public was furious about the ‘double standards’ of the Cho Kuk family, you were quick to defend former Minister of Justice Cho," criticizing him sharply.

Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon also posted on his Facebook the same day, saying, "It’s similar to giving Kim Eo-jun a microphone on a public broadcast," and added, "Not the sky, but (President Moon Jae-in’s) concrete support base will collapse, which is a good thing."

He continued, "If (the Democratic Party) comes to their senses now, it will be troublesome," sarcastically adding, "Floor leader Yoon and Chairman Jeong of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, ‘Right-wing pro-Moon and Left-wing anti-Moon’?they are doing well."

Earlier that day (the 19th), Representative Jeong posted on Facebook, saying, "When I see media reports, I can’t help but smile gently," and questioned, "If I take charge of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, will the sky fall?" He added, "Is there even a National Assembly law that says Jeong Cheong-rae cannot be the chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee?" and stated, "If the Democratic Party decides logically, it’s not something the media should fuss about. I will respect the party’s decision. I have always put the party before myself."