Chung Jin-lae: 'Our Values and Passion Remain Unbowed' After Party Leadership Loss

Chung Jin-lae, a candidate who did not win the leadership race for the Democratic Party, declared that his supporters lost in terms of numbers but not in their core values or passion. Addressing reporters after the party's national convention, Chung congratulated Kim Min-seok, the newly elected party leader.

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We lost in numbers, but our values and our passion have not been extinguished.

"Organizations cannot overcome the wind. But perhaps the organization was too strong this time," Chung remarked, drawing an analogy to a skilled archer who doesn't account for wind. He expressed deep apologies to his supporters for not being a "master archer" himself. Chung asserted that while he may have lost, the party members and supporters who backed him were victorious.

Chung reaffirmed his commitment to the reformist path he championed during the campaign. "The path we must take, just as a river does not give up on the sea, the 'Four Integrations' (referring to the legacies of Presidents Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in, and Lee Jae-myung), pan-democratic progressive unity, and the flag of reform cannot be lowered for even a moment. We must advance higher with the flag of reform," he stated.

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Organizations cannot overcome the wind. But perhaps the organization was too strong this time.

In a Facebook post following the convention, Chung further elaborated on his resolve. "I will raise the flag of people's sovereignty and party member sovereignty reform even higher. I will be the vanguard of continuous reform," he wrote. "I will steadfastly move forward among the people, using the tears of my comrades as my straw sandals."

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Chung Jin-lae lost, but the party members and supporters who supported Chung Jin-lae won.

Addressing the new leader, Chung requested, "Please lead the Democratic Party well. I hope you will further strengthen and protect the party member sovereignty party where each person has one vote." He concluded by pledging, "I will unswervingly do my best for the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration."

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The path we must take, just as a river does not give up on the sea, the 'Four Integrations' (referring to the legacies of Presidents Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in, and Lee Jae-myung), pan-democratic progressive unity, and the flag of reform cannot be lowered for even a moment. We must advance higher with the flag of reform.