Jeong Cheong-rae recalls past disqualification, appeals to party members for leadership bid

Democratic Party leadership hopeful Jeong Cheong-rae is appealing to party members for support by recalling his disqualification from a parliamentary election a decade ago. "I couldn't even turn on my phone due to the anger and support of the party members," Jeong wrote on social media, referencing his 2016 exclusion from the candidate list. He described a period of hardship and uncertainty but recalled his mother's image, urging him not to harm the party. He then worked tirelessly to support the party's victory through campaign rallies.

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I couldn't even turn on my phone due to the anger and support of the party members. I had no thoughts of leaving the party, but I was in a state of confusion about what to do next.

Jeong stated that people praised him as an icon of prioritizing the party over personal gain, but his reality was four years of hardship as a former lawmaker. He recalled watching a video of his "fighting alone" declaration from 10 years ago, where he asked not to leave the party. He highlighted the one-member, one-vote system as a precious institution created through years of struggle and urged party members to vote.

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I will go forward trusting only the people and the party members.

"I will go forward trusting only the people and the party members," Jeong declared. He also spoke at a local party meeting in Gwangju, vowing to pursue "reform after reform after reform" and abolish the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights. He stressed that this upcoming leadership election is the first to be conducted under the one-member, one-vote system.

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We must reform, reform, and reform again. We must abolish the prosecution's supplementary investigation rights. I will do that.