Jung Sye-kyun and Kim Du-kwan effectively support Lee Jae-myung: "Principles must be upheld"

Former Prime Minister and Democratic Party presidential primary candidate Chung Sye-kyun is leaving the National Assembly Communication Office after announcing his withdrawal from the race on the afternoon of the 13th of last month.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Seoyoung] Former Prime Minister Jeong Seyeon and Assemblyman Kim Dugwan, who withdrew midway from the Democratic Party presidential primary, have effectively endorsed Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung in the primary results.

Today (the 11th), former Prime Minister Jeong posted on his Facebook, saying, "The primary is over and the general election has begun," and added, "Congratulations to candidate Lee Jae-myung, and encouragement and deep consolation to the other candidates." He continued, "Upholding principles is the beginning of victory," emphasizing, "It is time to move forward together toward the 4th Democratic Party government." This led some to interpret that former Prime Minister Jeong was expressing support for the party leadership amid the controversy over the 'invalid vote handling' raised by former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon’s camp.

Assemblyman Kim Dugwan, who also ran in the primary, posted a message titled "A Request to the Leadership" on his Facebook the same day. Kim said, "The celebration, which should be a festival to congratulate the winner and encourage the loser in the Democratic Party, is strangely being distorted," and lamented, "As a candidate who withdrew during the primary, I feel restless as this issue has become the core of objections."

Nevertheless, Kim stated, "Discomfort in heart does not mean principles are compromised." He explained, "The Democratic Party already had a rule agreed upon in special party regulations that votes for withdrawn candidates would be invalidated," adding, "Raising issues about that rule after the primary only causes division within the Democratic Party." He also expressed, "I expect a magnanimous decision from candidate Lee Nak-yeon," and urged, "The leadership should promptly proceed with the objection process."

Earlier, former leader Lee Nak-yeon had expressed his intention to object to the party’s decision to invalidate votes for former Prime Minister Jeong and Assemblyman Kim, who withdrew during the primary race. This is because if their votes were maintained as is, Governor Lee would not surpass the majority vote threshold.