"Must Go Together"... Democratic Party Responds to Petition for 'Expulsion of Lee Nak-yeon and Removal of Park Ji-hyun'

Secretary-General Jo Jeong-sik Responds on Petition Site
Both Petitions Near 70,000 Signatures

Regarding the party petitions demanding the expulsion of former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon and the removal of former Emergency Committee Chair Park Ji-hyun, which have surpassed 50,000 signatures, the party responded by saying, "We must move forward together rather than fight over differences."

On the 16th, Cho Jung-sik, Secretary-General of the Democratic Party, shared recent remarks by party leader Lee Jae-myung related to the petitions through the party petition board, using them as a response. He added, "I ask party members and comrades to deeply appreciate Leader Lee's appeal for our party's unity and harmony."

Leader Lee had pointed out on Facebook the previous day, "When a petition calling for the expulsion of a specific individual is posted, another petition demanding 'discipline Lee Jae-myung' follows." He said, "It only becomes a chicken game where we bite and hurt each other within the camp. This is exactly the picture the opponent wants." He appealed, "Internal attacks are the greatest risk," and urged, "Please immediately stop all acts of slandering and attacking our comrades who should be fighting alongside us."

[Image source= Screenshot from the Democratic Party of Korea National Response Center website]

During a YouTube live broadcast held at the Democratic Party Central Office in Seoul on the 14th, he also said, "Next year's general election is very important," and "The most important and urgent task is to minimize division and conflict within us." Regarding former leader Lee Nak-yeon in particular, he referred to him as "a truly precious resource of our party," attempting to soothe the anti-Lee faction (non-Lee Jae-myung faction).

The petition titled "Requesting the removal or disciplinary action against former Chair Park Ji-hyun" posted on the 16th of last month recorded 78,852 signatures as of 3 p.m. on the day. The petition titled "Former leader Lee Nak-yeon must be permanently expelled from the Democratic Party" registered on the 28th of last month reached 73,412 signatures.

According to the party petition site, 'Democratic Party National Response Center,' the party is required to respond to petitions that receive more than 50,000 signatures from registered party members within 30 days of posting.