Kim Moonsoo Responds to Jung Cheongrae's Demand for Correction and Apology: "Look at Yourself First"

Kim warns Jung:
"Stop your words and actions, show restraint"
Jung responds:
"Legal action unless you apologize"

Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's candidate for party leader, responded on August 25 to Jeong Cheongrae, the Democratic Party leader, who demanded a correction regarding Kim's previous remarks about the U.S. ambassador's residence sit-in and claimed that the "grenade and steel pipe" comments were false. Kim retorted, "Before blaming others, I hope you first reflect on yourself."

In a statement released that day, Kim said, "Now is the time to make every effort to further develop the South Korea-U.S. relationship ahead of the summit between the two countries," and urged, "As the leader of the ruling party, I hope Representative Jeong will refrain from words and actions that negatively impact the South Korea-U.S. alliance and exercise self-restraint."

Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, has been continuing an eight-day sit-in protest against the special investigation team's search of the central party office related to Kim Gunhee on the 20th at the party's central office in Yeouido, Seoul. 2025.8.20 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Earlier that day, Representative Jeong demanded a correction and an apology from Kim for alleging that Jeong had used grenades and steel pipes during the occupation of the U.S. ambassador's residence in the past. On social media, Jeong stated, "Kim said, 'Representative Jeong is a very vicious person who threw grenades, broke down the front door with a steel pipe, and set fire to the ambassador's residence,' but I never threw a grenade, broke down the front door, or set a fire. If you do not correct and apologize, I will take legal action."

On August 10, during a televised debate for the People Power Party leadership election, Kim had said, "Someone like Jeong Cheongrae is an extreme leftist," and argued, "A person who goes to the (U.S.) embassy and breaks down the front door with a steel pipe is an extreme leftist terrorist. Did a conspiracy theorist about election fraud ever commit arson or violence?"

In fact, Representative Jeong led the occupation sit-in at the U.S. ambassador's residence in 1989 as a member of the National Council of Student Representatives, and was sentenced to two years in prison for violating the National Security Act and served time.