Apology from Jeong Cheong-rae on 'Speaker Election Results'... Woo Won-sik Criticizes "Division Between Winner and Party Members"

Aftermath Continues Following the June 16 National Assembly Speaker Election Results

Following the unexpected outcome in the Democratic Party of Korea's Speaker of the National Assembly election, where Representative Woo Won-sik defeated the elected candidate Chu Mi-ae, internal party conflicts have continued. Clashes have arisen, including backlash from some party members and Representative Jeong Cheong-rae, a senior member of the Democratic Party, apologizing to party members regarding the election results, which Woo opposed as 'divisive.'

On the 17th, after being elected as the candidate for Speaker of the National Assembly, Representative Woo visited the memorial altar for the victims of the Itaewon tragedy as his first official external schedule to console the bereaved families. Later, during a meeting with the press, he commented on Senior Member Jeong's apology, saying, "The elected candidate was chosen by the will of the people, and the elected candidates gathered to select the Speaker candidate." He added, "Representative Lee Jae-myung also said, 'Since it was chosen by the elected candidates, that is the will of the people.' So what exactly is Senior Member Jeong apologizing for?" He further criticized, "I, Woo Won-sik, have fought much harder than Senior Member Jeong against the Fukushima contaminated water discharge, have fasted, prevented the relocation of General Hong Beom-do's bust, and have fought against unfair power abuse by conglomerates and large corporations in the Euljiro Committee. Such expressions that separate party sentiment from public sentiment are very wrong, and those words should be withdrawn."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In an interview with MBC Radio, Representative Woo said, "The will of the party members may include misunderstandings about me, and there may have been hopes for candidate Chu Mi-ae. Party members might feel that those hopes were not fully met." However, he added, "Senior Member Jeong is a very responsible lawmaker, and I think it is inappropriate for him to speak like that. Rather, it separates the judgment of our elected candidates from the party members and causes division, so I believe his remarks were very inappropriate."

Earlier, Senior Member Jeong apologized to party members regarding the Speaker election results on consecutive days. Through social media the previous day, he said, "A party where the members are the owners still has a long way to go," and apologized to "party members and supporters who were hurt," offering consolation. Then, during the party's senior members' meeting that day, he publicly stated, "Many party members and supporters are disappointed and angry about yesterday's Speaker election results," and said, "I am sorry and deeply sorry to those who were hurt. Though my words may not be much consolation, I still offer my sympathy."

When Representative Woo demanded that Senior Member Jeong retract his remarks, Jeong clarified via social media that his intentions were not properly conveyed. He said, "There was a significant gap between the party sentiment (the feelings of party members) and the suspicion (the feelings of lawmakers), and there are party members who are disappointed and angry because of that. Shouldn't someone step forward to console and bridge that gap? I took it upon myself to make that effort."

He continued, "The moment someone says 'divisive,' even things that are not divisive can appear divisive, so I think that remark itself was inappropriate," adding, "It distorts my sincerity." Senior Member Jeong concluded, "I will continue to do my best to narrow the distance between party sentiment and suspicion. I ask the newly elected Speaker candidate to understand this point and do well according to the wishes of party members and supporters. Please do not misinterpret my intentions and I ask you to clear up any misunderstandings."