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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Party leadership candidate warns 'New Lee Jae-myung' faction could hurt election chances

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Democratic Party leadership candidate Chung Jin-suk expressed concern that a faction centered around "New Lee Jae-myung" could hinder the party's electoral prospects.
  • Chung believes that if this faction becomes dominant, it could alienate the party's traditional core supporters, making it difficult to win general and presidential elections.
  • He also addressed allegations of involvement with the Shincheonji religious group, vowing legal action against anyone who falsely links him to it.

Chung Jin-suk, a candidate for the leadership of the Democratic Party, has voiced concerns that the rise of a faction associated with "New Lee Jae-myung" could jeopardize the party's chances in upcoming general and presidential elections. Chung suggested that this faction should serve as an "alpha plus" for the party, but warned that if it becomes the mainstream, it could lead to significant difficulties.

I thought that if 'New Lee Jae-myung' becomes the mainstream of the party, there would be many difficulties in future general and presidential elections.

— Chung Jin-sukExpressing concerns about the internal dynamics of the Democratic Party and its electoral prospects.

Speaking on SBS's "Joo Young-jin's News Briefing," Chung explained his reasoning, stating that he has observed a movement among the Democratic Party's traditional and core supporters to distance themselves following the June local elections. He questioned how the party could overcome future elections if these core supporters, who have backed figures like Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in, and Lee Jae-myung, do not remain united. His decision to run for party leadership, he indicated, stems from this concern about the potential alienation of the core base.

When asked about recent comments by essayist Yoo Si-min, who speculated about "New Lee Jae-myung" potentially being led by President Lee Jae-myung and criticized the government's prosecution reform efforts, Chung declined to comment, stating that "silence is sometimes better." Yoo had suggested in a YouTube broadcast that the leader of the "New Lee Jae-myung" faction was likely President Lee.

I learned that the traditional support base and core members of the Democratic Party are largely trying to break away after the June local elections.

— Chung Jin-sukExplaining his rationale for running for party leadership, citing potential alienation of core supporters.

Furthermore, Chung addressed accusations of involvement with the Shincheonji religious group, which were raised by fellow leadership candidate Kim Min-seok. Chung vehemently denied the allegations, stating that any claims linking him to the group, especially if using his name, would be met with the strongest possible legal action. He emphasized the need for clear explanations and investigations into such allegations rather than vague accusations.

I will take the strongest legal action if my name is used to raise allegations of involvement.

— Chung Jin-sukResponding to accusations linking him to the Shincheonji religious group.
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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