Jang Kyung-tae: "Lee Sang-min? One defection is nothing more or less"

Democratic Party Supreme Council Member, SBS Radio Interview
"Five-term and 'Not Compatible with Democracy'? Difficult to Agree"

Jang Kyung-tae, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, commented on the resignation declaration of Lee Sang-min, a five-term veteran lawmaker, saying, "It's simply 'one person left the party,' nothing more, nothing less." On the 4th, Jang appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' and stated, "There will be no chain resignations."

Regarding the possibility of additional resignations by members of the dissident group 'Principles and Common Sense,' Jang said, "Principles and Common Sense consists of individuals who have been deeply active within the Democratic Party and played important roles in the Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in administrations," adding, "the identity of the Democratic Party is ultimately tied to the history of Kim Dae-jung, the spirit of Roh Moo-hyun, and the fate shared with Moon Jae-in, so they should not be disparaged."

In response to Lee Sang-min citing the 'Lee Jae-myung factionalism' as his reason for leaving, Jang rebutted, "If you call it factionalism by hardline party members, isn't the People Power Party a faction of President Yoon Suk-yeol?" and added, "In such a situation, Lee Sang-min has no justification for leaving the party nor for joining the People Power Party."

He warned, "Lee Sang-min has been a member of the National Assembly five times and was elected by the citizens of Yuseong, Daejeon," continuing, "if after five terms he says he 'does not understand the identity of the Democratic Party' or that 'the Democratic Party does not suit him,' he will surely face national and party member judgment."

He further added, "being a five-term lawmaker is an enormous privilege," and said, "Yet if he leaves the party as if discarding an old shoe, it will be difficult for anyone to agree with that."