Jeong Cheongrae Says, "Best of Luck to Political Ally Park Chan-dae... Let's Have a Beautiful Primary"

Park Chan-dae Says, "Jeong Cheongrae Also Has the Qualities to Be Party Leader"

Jeong Cheongrae, who is running for the leadership of the Democratic Party, sent a message to his rival Park Chan-dae on the 23rd, saying, "Best of luck to you!"

On this day, Jeong stated via social media, "Park Chan-dae, my political ally, has announced his candidacy for party leader," and offered his encouragement. Jeong had previously declared his own candidacy for party leader on the 15th.

Jeong Cheongrae, a member of the Democratic Party, is holding a press conference announcing his candidacy for party leader at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul on the 15th. Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding the fact that the two, who are known to be close, are now competing for party leadership, Jeong expressed, "I hope we can create a party convention where the people and party members are the true winners, through the most beautiful primary in the history of our party."

Park Chan-dae also commented during an MBC radio interview on the same day, "Jeong Cheongrae also has the qualities to be party leader," and explained, "My decision to run is not because I think Jeong Cheongrae should not become party leader, but because I want to open a stage where both Jeong and I can be chosen by the sovereign people and party members."

The Democratic Party will begin registering candidates for the party leadership race on July 10, followed by regional primaries in Chungcheong (July 19), Yeongnam (July 20), Honam (July 26), and Gyeonggi-Incheon (July 27). The new party leader will be confirmed at a joint party convention for Seoul, Gangwon, and Jeju on August 2.