Park: "Strong but Narrow Leadership Is Opposition Leadership"
Jeong: "A Leader Closest to Party Members, Reflecting Party Sentiment"
Jeong Chungrae and Park Chandae, both running as candidates for the Democratic Party leadership at the 8·2 Democratic Party National Convention, engaged in a war of nerves on July 16 over Jeong's pledge to hold a party member concert. Jeong argued that his pledge aligns with party member sovereignty, while Park criticized it as a "one-off" and "event-driven" pledge.
During the first Democratic Party leadership candidate TV debate, held via SBS News Briefing that afternoon, Jeong stated, "Just as broadcasters hold annual acting awards at the end of the year, I want to organize a party member concert so that our members can enjoy at least one day as a Democratic Party festival. I will build a Democratic Party that upholds party member sovereignty."
Previously, Jeong had pledged to revise the party constitution and regulations to implement a one-person-one-vote system for delegates and party members, institutionalize a daily consultation system for lawmakers, require the party leader to participate as an instructor in monthly party member education, and reflect social network service (SNS) activity scores in candidate nominations.
However, Park Chandae pointed out, "To achieve true party member sovereignty, rather than one-off or popularity-driven event pledges or various events in which party members simply participate, we must open the way for party members to actively participate in party operations, candidate nominations and evaluations for elected positions, and decision-making processes, so that they can genuinely become the owners of the party." Regarding party member sovereignty, Park presented five pledges: a party member ratification system for strategic nominations, evaluation of lawmakers and other elected officials, expansion of party member evaluations and introduction of a public election system within the party, increased transparency of parliamentary group meetings, and the establishment of a digital party platform.
Park, alluding to Jeong, described him as a strong but narrow leader, and added, "The ruling party leader must be both strong and broad. Merely fighting well is not enough. Rough and clumsy reforms can lead to irreparable failures. We need sophisticated and clean reforms, and leadership that knows when to fight and when to deliver results."
Regarding himself, Park said, "When it comes to fighting, I have demonstrated a decisive, swift, and strong leadership?flying like a butterfly and stinging like a bee?over the 13 months I served as floor leader. At the same time, I have also built an image as an integrative and stable leader. With integrative and stable leadership, I will expand support among moderates and lead next year's local elections to victory. The person who will fulfill the long-cherished goal of building a nationwide party, a dream of Presidents Kim Daejung and Roh Moo-hyun and our Democratic Party, is Park Chandae."
On the other hand, Jeong countered, "Regardless of whether the party leader fights or not, I believe a good party leader is one who reflects public sentiment and party sentiment?a leader who provides good feedback. I have always focused solely on party members and the will of the people." He added, "Among the candidates, I believe I am the one closest to the party members."
Jeong Chungrae and Park Chandae, candidates for the Democratic Party leadership, are taking a commemorative photo ahead of the TV debate held at SBS Mokdong in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on July 16, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Both candidates agreed on the need to swiftly complete reform tasks such as prosecution reform. Jeong emphasized, "Since the 17th National Assembly, I have been proud to play the role of an advocate for the independence of investigative powers between the prosecution and the police, and for separating investigation and indictment functions. Whether it was during Park Chandae's tenure as floor leader or mine as chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, I believe there is not even a 0.1 mm difference between us on prosecution reform." He continued, "Under the Lee Jaemyung administration, the fastest, most urgent, and lightning-fast task should be prosecution reform, and I believe Park Chandae agrees with this." He then asked Park for his opinion.
Park responded, "The core of prosecution reform is separating investigation and indictment. The law has already been enacted, and the direction is set. The bill has passed both the subcommittee and the full session of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee." He added, "I previously said that by the Chuseok holiday, we could deliver the news that the prosecution office would be dismantled, but if a decision is made, it could happen in August or September. Since there is already national consensus and a party platform, there is no need for a task force now?what is needed is simply a decision."
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