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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Failed in bid for party leadership, Chung Sye-kyun vows to do 'whatever is necessary'

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Chung Sye-kyun, who failed to retain the Democratic Party leadership, stated he would do anything necessary for the party's future success.
  • He acknowledged the election of pro-Chung Sye-kyun faction members to the Supreme Council as a significant achievement.
  • Chung vowed to continue working for reform and integration, urging party members to remain with him.

Chung Sye-kyun, having lost his bid to lead the Democratic Party, has pledged to contribute to the party's future success, including efforts toward general election victories and government re-election. Despite his defeat in the party leadership race, Chung highlighted the election of several Supreme Council members aligned with his faction as a validation of his support base.

I will quietly work for reform and the four-way integration (Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in, Lee Jae-myung) from my position.

— Chung Sye-kyunStated on Facebook after failing to retain the Democratic Party leadership.

"I will quietly work for reform and the four-way integration (Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in, Lee Jae-myung) from my position," Chung stated on Facebook. He specifically praised the election of Choi Min-hee, Lee Sung-yoon, and Han Min-soo to the Supreme Council, referring to their success as a "precious achievement" created by party members. He appealed to the party faithful, urging them to "not leave the party and stay with Chung Sye-kyun."

Chung secured 45.92% of the vote in the party's national convention, falling short against the newly elected leader Kim Min-seok, who garnered 54.08%. Sources close to Chung indicate he is unlikely to remain inactive, with one associate telling the Hankyoreh, "Chung is not the type to rest. He is a person who is constantly planning and doing something."

You all created a precious achievement.

— Chung Sye-kyunReferring to the election of pro-Chung Sye-kyun faction members to the Supreme Council.

However, Chung's post-election remarks have drawn some concern. Following the convention, he stated in a YouTube live broadcast that while Kim had won, "many of his arguments have lost," and that although Chung "lost in numbers, his supporters won, and Chung Sye-kyun's arguments were not lost." He also remarked, "I had too much pain that I couldn't speak about while serving as party leader. I will live my life saying what I have to say."

Party members, do not leave the party and stay with Chung Sye-kyun.

— Chung Sye-kyunAn appeal to party members following his leadership election loss.

Park Ji-won, a Democratic Party lawmaker, commented on a radio show that Chung's continued remarks were "not desirable for Chung Sye-kyun's political future." Park advised that "cleanly accepting defeat is greater democracy, and there was no need for Chung Sye-kyun to say that. It's better not to."

I had too much pain that I couldn't speak about while serving as party leader. I will live my life saying what I have to say.

— Chung Sye-kyunRemarking on his experience as party leader and future intentions.
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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