[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Jeong Cheong-rae, a Democratic Party lawmaker who challenged for the position of the Democratic Party Supreme Council member, said on the 8th, "What party members want most is a strong Democratic Party, a strong Democratic Party that fights hard against the People Power Party rather than compromising with them." Regarding the abolition of the TBS broadcasting ordinance, he warned by mentioning Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's mayoral position.
On the same day, Jeong appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and spoke about ranking first among Supreme Council candidates in the regional primary elections. He said, "I will pay attention to the party members, not to the JoongAng, Chosun, and Dong-a newspapers." Jeong added, "When we have Supreme Council meetings, they often bring clippings from JoongAng, Chosun, and Dong-a newspapers for reference, but would those papers ever favor the Democratic Party? They always criticize us, which makes us intimidated." He continued, "I will completely remove newspapers with JoongAng, Chosun, and Dong-a clippings during Supreme Council meetings."
Regarding the controversial amendment to Article 80 of the party constitution, he said, "Party members think this way, so let's consider it once. But using the judicial risk as an excuse and using the trap set by the People Power Party and JoongAng, Chosun, and Dong-a to stab internally is not the language of comrades." He added, "I scolded them, asking if it is right to stab internally over this."
About the judicial risks faced by Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, he said, "The various attacks and criticisms against candidate Lee have a very strong character of political oppression." He added, "If they want to arrest him, why not fight together instead of asking why they are arresting him? Especially attacking him at the party convention is not the language of comrades."
Jeong, who is also the chairman of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Communications Committee, commented on the People Power Party Seoul Metropolitan Council's move to expel TBS from Seoul's public institutions and eliminate operational support funding, which is the core of the 'TBS ordinance abolition.' He said, "Trying to abolish TBS might cost the mayoral position as well," and added, "I hope Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon comes to his senses."
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