Emphasizing Settlement of Insurrection Before Local Elections
Calls for Swift Judicial Reform
Continued Criticism of Chief Justice Cho Hui-dae's Judiciary
Pledges to Reintroduce One-Member, One-Vote System
Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, emphasized the push for the second comprehensive special prosecutor, the Unification Church special prosecutor, and judicial reform in his first press conference since taking office. With the June 3 local elections approaching, he appears to be signaling a confrontational stance against the People Power Party by stressing the need to settle issues related to insurrection by next year. The plan is to reintroduce the previously rejected "one-member, one-vote" system for party members immediately after the by-election for the Supreme Council next month.
Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is holding a press conference at the National Assembly on the 26th. 2025.12.26 Photo by Kim Hyunmin
In his opening remarks at the press conference held at the National Assembly in Yeouido on the 26th, Jeong stated, "We will swiftly and decisively push forward the second comprehensive special prosecutor and the Unification Church special prosecutor," adding, "We cannot take a single step back or rest even for a moment in our march toward settling the insurrection and completing reforms."
Regarding the second comprehensive special prosecutor, Jeong said, "We will gather and thoroughly investigate the unresolved issues from the three major special prosecutors, so that we can put a definitive end to all suspicions." He emphasized, "We must fully uncover the circumstances of the December 3 Martial Law Insurrection, as well as all abuses of power by the Yoon Sukyeol administration, including the Nosangwon notebook, the Ye Inhyeong memo, lobbying suspicions in the Chae Haebyeong case, and the alleged state manipulation by Kim Keonhee and Yoon Sukyeol."
Addressing the People Power Party, Jeong mentioned the Unification Church special prosecutor and warned of the possibility of party dissolution. He said, "We must thoroughly reveal the suspicions of split political donations by the People Power Party during the 2022 presidential election," and continued, "Collusion between religion and politics is unconstitutional in itself and a direct violation of the basic democratic order." He added, "If it is proven that former People Power Party floor leader Chu Kyungho obstructed the vote to lift martial law, and if collusion between the People Power Party and the Unification Church is confirmed as a crime, I once again stress that the People Power Party should be dissolved as an unconstitutional party."
Jeong also called for the swift passage of judicial reform bills, such as the crime of judicial distortion, the right to constitutional appeal, and increasing the number of Supreme Court justices, and delivered strong criticism of the judiciary under Cho Hui-dae. He stated, "If the judiciary under Cho Hui-dae had proclaimed its independence during the December 3 Martial Law Insurrection and the Western District Court riot, public distrust in the judiciary would not be as severe as it is now." He continued, "That is why I call myself an August 16 independence activist." He added, "Judicial reform is an issue brought about by the judiciary under Cho Hui-dae. Everyone is reaping what they have sown."
Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is holding a press conference at the National Assembly on the 26th. 2025.12.26 Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Regarding the "one-member, one-vote" system for party members, which was rejected at the party's Central Committee on the 5th, Jeong expressed his intention to reintroduce it. He stated, "I will push for the one-member, one-vote system again immediately after the upcoming by-election for the Supreme Council." The Supreme Council by-election is scheduled for the 11th of next month.
Finally, Jeong pledged to lead the Democratic Party to victory in the June 3 local elections through fair nominations. He said, "All primary elections to select our party's candidates for basic councilors, metropolitan councilors, basic local government heads, and metropolitan government heads will include the participation of party members with voting rights. The bottom-up nomination system has been fully introduced," adding, "Since President Roh Moo-hyun returned the nomination rights for National Assembly members to local residents, this is the greatest reform of the nomination process and the most significant political reform."
At the press conference, Jeong listed the Democratic Party's achievements, including: ▲legislation for reform of the three major institutions (prosecution, media, and judiciary), ▲legislation to restore livelihoods such as amendments to the Commercial Act, ▲legislation for public safety such as amendments to the Emergency Medical Services Act, ▲legislation for balanced national development such as the Busan Maritime Capital Special Act, and ▲the passage of the 2026 government budget bill within the legal deadline.
This press conference was Jeong's first since taking office as party leader 147 days ago. Rather than holding a press conference on his 100th day in office, as is customary in politics, he chose to volunteer at an animal shelter. Although an emergency press conference was held on the 5th, when the one-member, one-vote system was ultimately rejected, Jeong did not take questions from reporters and left after making his statement.
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