[Profile] New Democratic Party Leader Jeong Cheongrae: A Cutting-Edge, Frontline Attacker

Four-Term Lawmaker Known for Direct Speech
Self-Proclaimed "Party Cannon" Since 2015
Led Impeachment Prosecution Team During Yoon's Impeachment

Jeong Cheongrae of the Democratic Party of Korea was elected as the new party leader on August 2. Jeong won the party convention held at KINTEX in Ilsan with a final vote share of 61.74%.

Born in 1965 in Jinsan-myeon, Geumsan-gun, Chungnam Province, Jeong graduated from Bomun High School in Daejeon and earned a degree in Industrial Engineering from Konkuk University. He also completed a master's degree in North Korea Unification Policy at the Graduate School of Public Policy at Sogang University.

As a four-term lawmaker, Jeong entered politics after running a private academy in the early 1990s and being recruited by the National Congress for New Politics. He served as a member of the 17th, 19th, 21st, and 22nd National Assembly. In the 20th National Assembly, he experienced the hardship of being cut off and not receiving the party nomination.

Photo by Moon Hyewon

During the first leadership group (August 2022 to August 2024) led by President Lee Jaemyung, who was then the party leader, Jeong ranked first among the Supreme Council members. From June 2024 to June 2025, he served as the chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in the National Assembly. After the martial law declared by former President Yoon Sukyeol on December 3 last year, Jeong led the impeachment process as the head of the impeachment prosecution team during Yoon's impeachment.

Known for his direct and outspoken manner, Jeong declared in the February 8, 2015 party convention that he would play the role of the "party cannon." Since then, he has continued to take on this role, known for his sharp and incisive remarks.

In the presidential election won by President Lee, Jeong served as the joint head of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Central Election Committee (Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Election Committee), leading campaign activities throughout the Honam region.

▲Geumsan, Chungnam (1965) ▲Konkuk University, Industrial Engineering ▲17th, 19th, 21st, and 22nd National Assembly member ▲Twice served as Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party ▲Chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly