Jeong Warns, "This Is Not Acceptable"
Lee Gaeho, Kim Woni, Jeong Jinwook and Others Post Reasons for Absence on Social Media
Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, asserted discipline by expressing his displeasure toward Gwangju and Jeonnam constituency lawmakers who were absent from the on-site Supreme Council meeting in Honam. Since his election as party leader, Jeong has been working to win over public sentiment in Honam, a traditional stronghold of the Democratic Party, by measures such as forming a Special Committee for Honam Development. The absence of local lawmakers could undermine the effectiveness of these efforts.
At the first on-site Supreme Council meeting held on August 8 in the main conference room of the Democratic Party’s Jeonnam Provincial Office in Muan County, Jeonnam, Jeong rebuked the absent lawmakers, saying, "The Gwangju City Party Chair (Yang Bunam) and Jeonnam Provincial Party Chair (Joo Cheolhyeon) are here, so why didn’t the others come?" Only seven out of eighteen National Assembly members from the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions attended the meeting. Jeong then instructed Secretary-General Cho Seungrae, "Investigate and report the reasons for their absence," and emphasized again, "They should not behave this way."
This appears to reflect Jeong’s concern that the absence of a significant number of Honam lawmakers from the first on-site Supreme Council meeting since his leadership began, which was intended to promise plans for Honam’s development, could provoke resentment. Referring to the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, Jeong stated, "It is time for the Democratic Party to answer whether special compensation has been provided for Gwangju’s special sacrifice." He added, "As promised at the party convention, I have appointed Seo Samseok, a lawmaker from Honam, as a Supreme Council member, and as part of this commitment, I have named him chair of the Special Committee for Honam Development." Jeong also pledged to establish a public medical school and expand transportation networks.
After Jeong’s stern remarks, lawmakers from Jeonnam and Gwangju began posting explanations and photos on social media to disclose their reasons for absence. Lee Gaeho (four-term lawmaker representing Damyang, Hampyeong, Yeonggwang, and Jangseong in Jeonnam) explained that he was on a business trip to Japan to attend the "Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Korean Victims Memorial Ceremony," which was held locally in Japan for the first time in 80 years from August 6 for three days, organized by the Korea-Japan Parliamentarians’ Union and the Nagasaki branch of the Korean Residents Union in Japan.
Kim Woni (two-term lawmaker representing Mokpo, Jeonnam) stated, "I am benchmarking advanced offshore wind power projects in the UK and Denmark at the invitation of a global non-profit organization and the Embassy of Denmark in Korea." He explained, "This trip was originally scheduled for January this year, but was postponed due to the unprecedented situation of martial law and the impeachment of the president, and the final visit schedule was confirmed in July." Kim also noted, "I learned on the afternoon of August 6 that the Honam Supreme Council meeting would be held on August 8, but since August 6 was my departure date, it was virtually impossible to adjust my itinerary."
Jeong Jinwook (first-term lawmaker representing Dong-gu and Nam-gu Gap in Gwangju) wrote, "From July 2021 to August 2025, I have served as spokesperson for Lee Jaemyung’s primary campaign, as well as spokesperson for Lee Jaemyung’s presidential, parliamentary, and party leader campaigns?three times in total. After martial law and impeachment, there was a historic presidential election! For four years and one month, I have never truly rested. I am now on the third day of a long-awaited trip to Germany with my wife." He added, "I heard about the Honam Supreme Council meeting here. Jeong Jinwook is not a petty person. I just hope there is no misunderstanding."
Other absent lawmakers reportedly cited health checkups and TV appearances as reasons for being unable to attend either event.
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