Ruling Party Leadership Rift Moves Toward Resolution... Jeong Cheongrae: "Comrades Must Stand United"

Cho Jeongsik: "Extending the Investigation Is Unavoidable Due to Yoon Sukyeol and Kim Keonhee's Stalling Tactics"

After the agreement between the floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties on the amendment to the "Three Major Special Prosecutor Act (Insurrection, Kim Keonhee, Fallen Marine)" was reversed, the intense conflict among the leadership of the ruling party has now entered a phase of resolution.

Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, emphasized at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 12th, "We are comrades and fellow soldiers who have shared life’s hardships and survived near-death crises together," adding, "Let the party, the government, and the presidential office unite as one to work together for the success of the Lee Jaemyung administration."

Leader Jeong further stated, "Are the small differences among us greater than those with our opponents? Even though it may seem like there are many twists and turns right now, history ultimately flows as one great current. We have overcome even greater difficulties in the past."

Regarding the passage of the amendment to the Three Major Special Prosecutor Act in the National Assembly plenary session the previous day, as originally proposed by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, he said, "Rather than wasting time in endless arguments over trivial disputes, we have decided to focus on the essence of the three special prosecutor cases: uncovering the truth, punishing those responsible, and preventing recurrence."

Leader Jeong's emphasis on party unity is seen as a step toward resolving the internal leadership turmoil that erupted the previous day. On the same day, President Lee Jaemyung also expressed support for Jeong Cheongrae and the party leadership, stating, "Insurrection is not an issue that can be easily glossed over or compromised."

Assemblyman Cho Jeongsik of the Democratic Party appeared on MBC Radio's "Kim Jongbae's Focus" and explained the conflict between the party's "two top leaders," saying, "There was communication among the leadership, but in response to the strong sentiment within the party that we must not allow Yoon Sukyeol and Kim Keonhee to stall for time, the agreement was revised." Assemblyman Cho added, "Looking at the current trial process, Yoon Sukyeol and Kim Keonhee are refusing to comply with summons, exercising their right to remain silent, and intentionally delaying proceedings. Within the party, it was considered essential to extend the investigation period and increase manpower to counter these stalling tactics."

On September 10, after Kim Byungki, the Democratic Party's floor leader, reached an agreement with Song Eonseok, floor leader of the People Power Party, to bundle the amendment to the Three Major Special Prosecutor Act with the Financial Supervisory Commission Establishment Act, the Democratic Party faced strong backlash from hardline party members, supporters, and lawmakers. The party's hardline supporters fiercely criticized Floor Leader Kim and the party leadership through social media, calling them "spies" and "watermelons" (a slang term for someone who is different on the inside than on the outside), and sent a barrage of protest messages.