Chung Cheongrae: "It Doesn't Matter If Park Chandae Becomes Party Leader... I Will Act as One with President Lee"

Chung Cheongrae and Park Chandae Expected to Face Off One-on-One
Chung Cheongrae: "Park Chandae Is a Friend with Whom I Share True Friendship"
"I Will Act as One with President Lee"

Rep. Chung Cheongrae attended the final hearing of President Yoon Sukyeol's impeachment trial held at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on February 25, waiting for the start of the argument. Photo by Joint Press Corps

As Chung Cheongrae, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, announced his candidacy for party leader, he stated, "It does not matter if Park Chandae, the former floor leader, becomes the party leader." This remark appears to have been made out of concern over overheating, as petitions recommending Park Chandae as a candidate for party leader have recently been circulated among party members.

On June 17, Chung Cheongrae made these comments during an appearance on the YouTube program "Kim Eojun's News Factory: Humility Is Difficult."

Regarding Park Chandae, Chung said, "I used to wonder if I would ever make a friend after graduating from high school, but after becoming a National Assembly member, I did. As floor leader and as chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, we have always worked together in complete agreement."

When asked whether they had discussed running for party leader with each other, he replied, "We have met and talked. If it comes to it, I would say, 'I don't mind if Park Chandae becomes party leader,' and Park would say, 'I don't mind if Chung Cheongrae becomes party leader.' I hope we can both engage in a kind of campaign that neither of us has tried before, based on that perspective."

Previously, on June 15, Chung Cheongrae announced his candidacy for the next party leader, stating, "I will dedicate myself to the success of the Lee Jaemyung administration." He continued, "Three years ago, I dreamed of a Lee Jaemyung presidency with Chung Cheongrae as party leader, but I postponed that dream. Lee Jaemyung became party leader, and I became a member of the Supreme Council, and together we had to fight against the ruthless 'Yoon Sukyeol prosecutorial dictatorship.' I have fought at the forefront against the Yoon Sukyeol administration's oppression of the opposition, elimination of political rivals, and efforts to bring down Lee Jaemyung, and I stood at the very front with the people against the 12·3 martial law rebellion incident."

He also said, "For the success of the Lee Jaemyung administration, I will act as one with President Lee as party leader of the Democratic Party. The fate of President Lee is the fate of Chung Cheongrae. Lee Jaemyung is Chung Cheongrae, and Chung Cheongrae is Lee Jaemyung."

Since Chung Cheongrae's announcement of his candidacy on June 15, an online petition titled "I recommend Park Chandae as a candidate for Democratic Party leader" has been circulating among party members, leading to analysis that competition is heating up even before the party convention has begun.

The petition states, "The most suitable candidate for the next party leader to support the stable administration of President Lee Jaemyung is Park Chandae," and "The political safety device for the Lee Jaemyung administration: We can feel assured when Park Chandae is party leader."