Jo Eung-cheon: "Lawmakers Criticizing Lee Sang-min... Like 'The Glory' School Violence Participants"

Lee Sang-min, a five-term lawmaker from the Bimyeong (非明) faction, criticized the recent departure from the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) by pointing out the problems of 'fandom politics.' In response, members of the pro-Myung (親明) faction within the party have been voicing criticism, to which Cho Eung-cheon, a DPK lawmaker classified as part of the Bimyeong faction, responded by saying they resemble participants in school violence (hakpok).

On the 5th, Cho said on BBS's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal,' "After Lee left, I was quite saddened and surprised to see how cynically people in our party talked behind his back," criticizing the situation.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee resigned on the 3rd, stating that "the party has become a private faction and turned into a 'Gaeddal' party." In response, lawmaker Cho Seung-rae criticized, "No matter what, as long as you become the Speaker of the National Assembly," while Park Sang-hyuk, Deputy Head of the Digital Strategy Office, advised, "Don't spit into the well you drank from." Jang Kyung-tae, a Supreme Council member, said on SBS Radio, "He left the party as if discarding a worn-out item."

Regarding this, Cho said, "The first-term lawmakers, much younger juniors, are acting this way, and I used to think that pro-Myung lawmakers were mere bystanders to school violence, but now it seems they are accomplices to the school violence against Moon Dong-eun, the protagonist of 'The Glory,' along with Park Yeon-jin," adding, "or else how could they wound someone's heart so deeply? It's truly regrettable."

On whether Lee would join the People Power Party (PPP), Cho said, "(The PPP's) vertical party-government relationship has not improved, and I understand that the party-government unity is still maintained," adding, "They welcomed him with all kinds of sweet words, giving full authority to Chairman In Yo-han, but now, after about 40 days, they seem ready to spit him out like a chewed-up gum. Will he go? I don't think so."

Regarding the 'Lee Nak-yeon new party,' Cho evaluated that it still lacks substance. He said, "Does it really have substance now?" and criticized, "The media often attaches 'new party' to well-known political figures like former leader Lee or Lee Jun-seok, expecting them to act as a rallying point, but there is no real substance."

He continued, "People keep saying that this is being done in some coordination with us, but let me make it clear again, there is no coordination with us," emphasizing, "We believe that the ruling party, the Democratic Party, should get closer to the people and win their hearts more, and furthermore, normalize Korean politics. That is what we advocate."

With reports that former leader Lee recently met with former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, speculation about an alliance among former Prime Ministers Lee Nak-yeon, Kim Boo-kyum, and Chung Sye-kyun has emerged. Cho said, "The three former prime ministers joining hands does not necessarily mean they are forming a new party, but rather that they share the view that the current Lee Jae-myung regime has problems. That is how I understand it."