Democratic Party leadership race heats up with verbal sparring

Jung Chung-rae, a contender for the leadership of South Korea's Democratic Party, has pushed back against rival Kim Min-seok's criticisms of the party's falling approval ratings. Kim had suggested that simply criticizing opponents was insufficient and that the party needed to perform better to win elections.

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I will not engage in negativity. I will not slander or insult my opponents.

Responding via Facebook, Jung declared his intention to avoid negative campaigning. "I will not engage in negativity. I will not slander or insult my opponents," he wrote. While stating he would "take a hit" if attacked, Jung added, "I will occasionally defend myself."

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I will take a hit, but I will occasionally defend myself.

Kim's earlier remarks, made at a party meeting in Suncheon, implied that focusing solely on labeling opponents as "insurrectionary forces" was less important than demonstrating superior performance and securing electoral victories. This was widely interpreted as a jab at Jung's potential leadership.

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What's the point of just calling them insurrectionary forces? If we lose the election, it's over.

The internal party friction comes at a challenging time for the Democrats. Recent polls have shown the conservative People Power Party overtaking them in national support, and the Democrats suffered significant losses in the last local elections. Jung also posted a separate message urging caution due to heavy rainfall and advising authorities to prioritize public safety and property protection.

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Winning the general election to gain more seats is more important than criticizing the insurrectionary forces.