Jung Cheongrae and Park Chandae Continue Daily Criticism of People Power Party

Party Leadership Election... Appealing to Core Supporters
Jung: "No Cooperation with Rebellion Forces"
Park: "Reintroducing the Kim Keonhee Special Prosecutor Bill"

On July 26, a weekend, candidates Jung Cheongrae and Park Chandae, running for the leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea, participated in flood recovery support activities in the Honam region. Externally, they continued to compete for the support of the party’s strong supporters by criticizing the People Power Party.

Democratic Party candidates Jeong Cheongrae (second from left) and Park Chandae (third from left) are talking at the flood damage site in Jogok-ri, Sinam-myeon, Yesan-gun, Chungnam Province on the 21st. Photo by Yonhap News

On this day, Jung stated on social media, "Can we really cooperate with the forces of rebellion who tried to send armed martial law troops to the National Assembly to detain Lee Jaemyung, Kim Minseok, Park Chandae, and Jung Cheongrae?" He added, "Eradicating rebellion comes before cooperation. Do not carelessly speak of cooperation with those who tried to kill people."

This remark appears to be aimed at Park’s comment during the first TV debate on July 16, where he mentioned that, as the ruling party leader, he would also pursue cooperation with the opposition.

Jung also responded to criticism from conservative-leaning media regarding his and Park’s positions?such as calling for the dissolution of the unconstitutional People Power Party and the expulsion of lawmakers who supported rebellion?by saying, "Keep your hands off the Democratic Party convention and just support the soon-to-be-dissolved rebellion party."

Park also posted on social media the same day, stating, "Yoon Sukyeol and his wife are stalling the special prosecutor’s investigation, and I condemn their delay tactics." He added, "It is an illusion to think that simply holding out will end things." He also referred to the resolution he submitted the previous day, urging the expulsion of 45 People Power Party lawmakers, saying, "I will make sure they are expelled from the National Assembly."

Ahead of the August 2 party convention, Jung and Park have been introducing a series of bills and resolutions targeting the People Power Party, under the banner of "the complete end of rebellion." In political circles, this is interpreted as a strategy to win the votes of hardline party members, whose support could determine the outcome of the leadership election.

The two candidates will face off in the second TV debate on July 27.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party had originally planned to hold a regional primary in the Honam area on this day, but changed the schedule to conduct it simultaneously with the August 2 convention, citing heavy rain damage and other reasons.