Pro-Government Leader Jeong Seong-ho: "Ruling and Opposition Parties Normalize Criticism and Mockery... Must Overcome Differences"

In Response to Narrowing Poll Gap, "The Democratic Party Was Lacking"
"We Must Actively Engage in Dialogue With the Ruling Party... Such Efforts Have Been Insufficient"

Jeong Seong-ho, a key figure of the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction in the Democratic Party of Korea, pointed out the need to restore politics amid the extreme confrontation between the ruling and opposition parties during the impeachment crisis. He emphasized that the Democratic Party, the major opposition party, should actively attempt dialogue with the ruling party regarding the Special Prosecutor Act on general insurrection and the Special Prosecutor Act on First Lady Kim Keon-hee, known as the 'double special prosecutor acts.'

On the 10th, ahead of a forum at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, Jeong told reporters, "The progress and decision-making process of the National Assembly is decided by the Speaker of the National Assembly in consultation with the floor negotiation groups. Currently, the negotiation groups are the People Power Party and the Democratic Party," adding, "Consultation is a basic responsibility. Both the ruling and opposition parties must recognize each other's existence and make efforts to engage in dialogue." He continued, "The current relationship between the ruling and opposition parties is completely severed. It has become routine to criticize and ridicule each other, but that should not be the case," and pointed out, "Democracy is practiced by acknowledging differences and striving to overcome them."

Jeong also noted that the narrowing gap in approval ratings between the ruling and opposition parties, as shown in public opinion polls, reflects mistakes by the Democratic Party. According to the National Barometer Survey (NBS) conducted by polling agencies Embrain Public, K-stat Research, Korea Research, and Hankook Research from the 6th to the 8th, surveying 1,000 adult men and women nationwide, the People Power Party's support was 32%, while the Democratic Party's was 36% (telephone interview method, with a sampling error of ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level). Compared to the previous survey on the 19th of last month, the People Power Party's support rose by 6 percentage points, while the Democratic Party's dropped by 3 percentage points.

He said, "(Looking at the polls) the biggest factor is the consolidation of the ruling party's support base," but added, "The Democratic Party, as the majority party in the National Assembly, has been lacking in actively showing efforts to resolve the current situation and to focus on national stability, the economy, and people's livelihoods." Furthermore, he explained, "Even if the president has committed serious illegal or wrongful acts, the Democratic Party, as the ruling party representing the people, should actively seek dialogue," and said, "I think such efforts have been somewhat insufficient." This appears to be a criticism of the Democratic Party leadership for not engaging in behind-the-scenes talks or dialogue with the ruling party after the double special prosecutor acts were rejected following a re-vote.

Jeong has consistently voiced opinions contrary to the hardline stance of the Democratic Party leadership. On the previous day’s SBS radio program 'Kim Taehyun's Political Show,' he said, "The party's efforts to pass the double special prosecutor acts were somewhat insufficient," and added, "There should be efforts to contact, dialogue with, and persuade ruling party lawmakers in various ways." Regarding the Democratic Party's criminal complaint against Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, for dereliction of duty, he questioned its appropriateness and suggested that the party should broaden its scope of maneuver.