Jeong Bongju Launches "North Korea is Money" YouTube Broadcast
"Trump Era Brings Rapid Changes to the Korean Peninsula"
"Apologies to Those Hurt During the Party Convention"
Former lawmaker Jeong Bong-ju, who faced defeat at last year's Democratic Party of Korea leadership election, has started a YouTube channel specializing in North Korea. On the 17th, Jeong uploaded a video titled "Trump-Kim Jong-un Season 2: North Korea is Money" on his YouTube channel 'Jeong Bong-ju TV.' While he had previously appeared as a political speaker for the opposition, it is known that he plans to focus on North Korea-related content instead of politics going forward.
Former lawmaker Jeong Bong-ju publicly apologized for his 'Myeongpari' remark during the last party convention on his YouTube channel. YouTube
After losing in the Supreme Council member election, Jeong pursued a doctoral program in the Department of Unification Studies at Inje University and reportedly earned his Ph.D. in Unification Studies earlier this year. He said, "In the broadcasts that were previously centered on politics, now with the Trump era, the Korean Peninsula seems to be riding a wave of rapid change," adding, "I want to have a time to broaden perspectives by discussing with viewers how to interpret this era."
Jeong Bong-ju, a candidate for the Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering his policy speech at the 1st Regular National Party Members' Convention of the Democratic Party of Korea held at the KSPO Dome in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 18th. 2024.08.18. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung
He publicly apologized for the so-called 'Myeongpali (supporting Lee Jae-myung)' remark that caused controversy during the leadership election. He stated, "I heard that my words, which seemed to attack those who support Representative Lee Jae-myung and are enthusiastic about the Democratic Party, upset and hurt party members," and added, "Many people were hurt by my remarks at that time. I sincerely apologize to those who were hurt and upset."
Despite being an outsider at the beginning of the leadership election, Jeong caused a surprise surge by leading the polls, but after the remark, he faced backlash from hardline Democratic Party members and was eventually pushed out of the winning circle.
The broadcast featured Professor Jin Hee-gwan from the Department of Unification Studies at Inje University as a panelist. Professor Jin mentioned young defectors who left North Korea for study purposes, saying, "Because defectors become illegal residents in China, South Korea is the safest place," and estimated that "among about 30,000 North Korean defectors, around 1,000 to 2,000 came for study purposes." He explained, "In North Korea, they are treated as missing or disappeared, so no one knows about them," and added, "In South Korea, they use new names, so their North Korean families are safe."
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