Jeong Seong-ho "Party Dividing Ahead of General Election Is a Path to Self-Destruction"

Dismissal of 'Lee Nak-yeon Return Rumors'
Kim Yong and Jeong Jin-sang's Charges Are "Personal Actions"
"Party Mobilization? There's No Such Thing"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Junyi] Jeong Seong-ho, the leader of the pro-Myeong faction (pro-Lee Jae-myung faction) in the Democratic Party, diagnosed the judicial risk emerging within the party by saying, "The party dividing itself ahead of the general election is a path to self-destruction."

On the 23rd, Jeong appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Taehyun's Political Show' and, when asked about reports that 'pro-Lee Nak-yeon faction lawmakers are moving,' he stated, "In the case of lawmaker Seol Hoon, he has protected the Democratic Party since the time of former President Kim Dae-jung, and I am confident that he believes the party should not divide at times like this." He dismissed the rising conflict rumors within the party amid recent consecutive prosecutorial investigations.

He drew a line by saying that the investigations into Kim Yong, Deputy Director of the Democratic Research Institute, and Jeong Jin-sang, Political Coordination Officer of the Party Representative's Office, are personal acts unrelated to Representative Lee. Jeong said, "I don't know the current situation, but these are personal acts," and added, "It might look stranger if the representative makes a specific explanation now." The day before, on YTN Radio's 'News King Park Ji-hoon,' he also mentioned about Deputy Director Kim, "Wouldn't it be better if he voluntarily resigns?"

Regarding internal criticism that the party is mobilizing all its forces to defend, he denied, saying, "There is no such thing as the party being mobilized in any aspect to defend." Jeong explained, "Deputy Director Kim and Officer Jeong are not just ordinary party officials but have been long-time political aides to the party representative, so their issues are theirs, and it is clear that the prosecution's target is not Representative Lee. We can talk about the unfairness of the investigation process or the content related to that."

He viewed that if the judicial risk of the party representative increases in the future, the entire party should discuss and respond collectively. He said, "When such a situation (Representative Lee being indicted) occurs, the party can respond through consultation; I don't think it will affect the entire party or anything like that," adding, "It is a matter to be handled depending on the situation."

He continued, "Having observed Representative Lee for 35 years, he is truly a person who neither gives nor takes," emphasizing Lee's innocence by saying, "I do not think he committed any criminal acts or corruption."