"Was It Appropriate to Discuss a Leadership Bid During the Election?"... Pro-Lee Faction Pushes Back

[Anchor]

While the remarks by Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae regarding the "short-lived nature of the administration" continue to stir controversy, President Lee Jae-myung has posted a message emphasizing the ruling party's responsibilities. With the national convention to elect the next party leader approaching, the conflict between the so-called pro-Lee (Lee Jae-myung) faction and the pro-Jung (Jung Chung-rae) faction is intensifying.

Reporter Kang Min-u has the story.

[Reporter]

Regarding the post President Lee Jae-myung shared on social media on June 13 emphasizing the "ruling party's responsibility," some in political circles interpreted it as being aimed at leader Jung Chung-rae. Cho Seung-rae, Secretary-General of the Democratic Party, refuted this, stating that it is a "distortion of the President's intentions."

[Cho Seung-rae/Secretary-General of the Democratic Party: I understand it as a message about what attitude our ruling party should take toward state affairs following the local elections, rather than being directed at a specific individual or the current leadership.]

Regarding the evaluation of the June 3 local elections, he stated that it would include not only the central party, city and provincial chapters, and election camps, but also government officials.

[Cho Seung-rae/Secretary-General of the Democratic Party: I believe we must also evaluate how the messages and actions of government officials (during the election process) influenced public opinion.]

Secretary-General Cho specifically criticized Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, arguing that the situation in certain constituencies, such as North Jeolla Province and Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, exposed internal party divisions to the public due to links to the next party leadership race.

[Cho Seung-rae/Secretary-General of the Democratic Party: The local election was in full swing, and there was talk of a leadership bid and resigning as Prime Minister. What kind of impact do you think that had on the election?]

While he drew a line regarding President Lee Jae-myung, stating that the President "had nothing special to say other than encouraging voter turnout" and thus is not a subject for evaluation, members of the pro-Lee faction have reacted with backlash, with some asking if he is acting like an "opposition party secretary-general" or claiming the remarks were "effectively aimed at the President."

Representative Lee Geon-tae also demanded the resignation of leader Jung and others, asking, "What does the Prime Minister's status or the possibility of a leadership bid have to do with the evaluation of the local elections?"

The "local election responsibility" debate is becoming intertwined with the next party leadership structure—pitting the pro-Lee faction against the pro-Jung faction—as the internal conflict within the ruling camp continues to grow.

(Video reporting: Yoon Hyung | Video editing: Won Hyung-hee | Design: Seo Seung-hyun, Lee Ye-sol)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.