Na Kyungwon: "Chung Cheongrae's Election Is Kim Eo-jun's Victory Over President Lee Jaemyung"

"Chung Cheongrae must feel the responsibility and weight as the ruling party leader"
"People Power Party is always ready to cooperate with the ruling party"

As Chung Cheongrae of the Democratic Party of Korea was elected as the new party leader, defeating Park Chandae, Na Kyungwon, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, analyzed that "Chung Cheongrae's election as party leader is a victory for Kim Eo-jun over President Lee Jaemyung." On the 4th, Na posted on her social networking service (SNS), "Even President Lee Jaemyung reportedly mentioned unity between the party, government, and presidency during his call with Chung. While they talk about unity, we will soon witness a subtle fissure in power for the future, and this may either harm the people through a competition for radicalism or provoke public resentment."

Na Kyungwon, Member of the National Assembly of the People Power Party. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

She continued, "The fact that Chung's first move was to call Kang Sunwoo, the former Minister of Gender Equality and Family nominee, who withdrew her nomination in the form of voluntary resignation, is telling." Na asserted, "Chung has declared two things. First, the end of insurrection and, for that purpose, the dissolution of the People Power Party; second, domination under the pretext of media, judiciary, and prosecution reform. In short, it is malicious." Regarding Chung's labeling of the People Power Party as an insurrectionist force, she pointed out, "Chung, who has served as the chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and as an impeachment prosecutor, surely knows that martial law is not the same as insurrection," adding, "It is telling that in the Constitutional Court, insurrection charges were not withdrawn as grounds for impeachment."

Na Kyungwon: "In fact, it was the Democratic Party that first began insurrection and disruption of constitutional order"

Addressing Chung's continued references to special investigations and party dissolution, Na criticized, "Special investigation on insurrection, dissolution of the insurrectionist party?who actually began the insurrection and disruption of constitutional order?" She added, "An insurrection is an uprising aimed at excluding state power or disrupting constitutional order." She continued, "Since the 2022 presidential election, who has been calling for an early election, indiscriminate impeachments and special investigations, ruthless passage of bills, and unconditional budget cuts to paralyze state affairs and prevent the presidential system from functioning? Wasn't it Chung, as chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, at the center of this? Chung is the main culprit and at the core of the disruption of constitutional order caused by obstructing state governance."

Jeong Chungrae, the newly appointed leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is meeting Woo Sangho, Senior Secretary for Political Affairs at the Presidential Office, in the party leader's office at the National Assembly on the 4th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Furthermore, Na stated, "Instead of demanding an apology from the People Power Party, Chung should first apologize for the disruption of constitutional order committed in the past." She argued, "Although I do not agree with the method of martial law, wasn't it the tyranny of the majority party that went beyond its original function of checks and balances to destroy the presidential system?" In conclusion, Na offered a word of advice: "If you dream of future power, return to the responsibility, weight, principles, and rule of law befitting a ruling party leader, rather than being a leader known for malicious and disgraceful language. And please respect the constitutional order of liberal democracy. We are always ready to cooperate with the ruling party for the benefit of the nation and the people," she added.