"Party Unity Through Open Primary Rules,
National Unity Through Constitutional Reform"
Former Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin, who recently met with Lee Jae-myung, the party leader who has taken steps to embrace the 'scream faction,' said, "I suggested to Leader Lee that he inherit the achievements and failures of the Moon Jae-in administration," adding, "It is inappropriate to distance oneself just because the previous government was unpopular."
On the 24th, on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' Park said, "Former President Roh Moo-hyun looked coolest when he said, 'Are you telling me to abandon my wife?' and when the Kim Dae-jung administration was at its lowest popularity, he declared that he would inherit both the assets and liabilities," adding, "Leader Lee should do the same. Only then can personal concerns, attacks, and criticisms against Lee Jae-myung inevitably decrease."
During the 2002 presidential primary, when an issue arose involving the father of First Lady Kwon Yang-sook, former President Roh quelled the controversy by responding, "Are you telling me to abandon my beloved wife?" Also, during the same year's presidential election, when scandals involving Kim Dae-jung's son surfaced and public opinion toward the Democratic Party worsened, he declared, "I will firmly inherit the assets and liabilities of former President Kim."
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (left), and former lawmaker Park Yong-jin. Photo by Yonhap News
Park said, "I also urged Leader Lee to unify the party and pursue national unity through constitutional reform," adding, "This means actively accepting open primary rules and creating the premise for national unity through constitutional reform." He emphasized, "People in their 20s and 30s see the Democratic Party as the epitome of 'naeronambul' (double standards: 'If I do it, it's romance; if others do it, it's an affair'). I don't think the support of the 20s and 30s generation will return through a few events. From now on, we must replace the generations and clear out the 586 (people in their 50s, who were university students in the 1980s, born in the 1960s) politics."
When asked if former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon is included in the target of party unity, he answered, "Yes." Park addressed former Prime Minister Lee, saying, "Please join us under the grand cause of judging the rebellion and regime change," adding, "Now is the time to bring in Lee Jun-seok of the Reform New Party, Ahn Cheol-soo of the People Power Party, and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min." He continued, "The rhetoric is getting harsher and the attacks are becoming more aggressive," adding, "They are politicians who have received great love and opportunities from the Democratic Party and the people. Please help ease the public's worries."
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