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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Democratic Party Leadership Race Marred by Ethics Committee Threats

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Two prominent candidates for the Democratic Party leadership, Jeong Cheong-rae and Kim Min-seok, are engaged in a public dispute, threatening to report each other to the party's ethics committee.
  • Kim accuses Jeong of engaging in factional politics and inciting negative campaigning, while Jeong counters by accusing Kim of raising baseless suspicions about involvement with the Shincheonji religious group.
  • The conflict highlights internal tensions within the party as it approaches its national convention.

A heated exchange has erupted between two leading contenders for the Democratic Party's leadership, Jeong Cheong-rae and Kim Min-seok, as they publicly threatened to file complaints against each other with the party's ethics committee. The dispute centers on accusations of factional politics and smear campaigns during the ongoing national convention.

I will report to the ethics committee all those who have engaged in wrong factional acts during the election process or made false accusations and incitement against a fellow candidate's speech.

— Kim Min-seokCandidate for Democratic Party leadership, vowing to report rivals.

Kim Min-seok accused his rival, Jeong Cheong-rae, of engaging in "outdated factional politics" and making "false statements" about historical political maneuvers. Kim vowed to report anyone involved in "wrongful factional acts" or "false accusations and incitement" during the campaign to the ethics committee, stating he would ensure they face judgment even if they reach the party leadership.

You attacked the party and hurt the hearts of party members by raising suspicions of involvement with Shincheonji.

— Jeong Cheong-raeCandidate for Democratic Party leadership, accusing Kim Min-seok.

In response, Jeong Cheong-rae targeted Kim Min-seok over allegations of involvement with the Shincheonji religious group. Jeong stated that Kim had "attacked the party and hurt the hearts of party members" by raising these suspicions. He declared that if he becomes party leader, he will definitely report Kim to the ethics committee for judgment, demanding that Kim provide evidence for his claims.

If I become party leader, I will definitely report Kim Min-seok to the ethics committee for judgment.

— Jeong Cheong-raeCandidate for Democratic Party leadership, escalating the conflict.

Jeong also referenced Kim's past political defection in 2002, when Kim left the Democratic Party to join the newly formed National Alliance 21 led by Chung Mong-joon, implying a history of political opportunism. Meanwhile, another candidate, Song Young-gil, criticized both rivals, urging them to focus on policy rather than personal attacks and referencing a controversial statement made by commentator Yoo Si-min about President Lee Jae-myung.

Provide the basis for the suspicion of involvement with Shincheonji.

— Jeong Cheong-raeChallenging Kim Min-seok to provide evidence for his accusations.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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