Jeong Cheong-rae, a member of the Democratic Party, resigned from his position as party leader on June 24. He has been actively visiting the Honam region to gauge public sentiment and is expected to officially launch his reelection campaign soon.
During a Supreme Council meeting held in the National Assembly, Jeong stated, "I raised the banner of a strong reformist party leader, and implementing party member sovereignty, the one-person, one-vote system, judicial reform, and media reform has not been easy. Today, I will step down from the leadership position."
He added, "It has not been easy for a single day due to resistance both inside and outside the party, but I have worked diligently. I will do my utmost as part of a united team for the success of the Yoon Suk-yeol government." He emphasized, "I will protect my commitment to President Yoon and will do my best from my position for the success of this government. Even if the road is thorny, I will trust only the public sentiment and the party's will and continue on my path."
This move is interpreted as a signal that Jeong is gearing up for a reelection bid. He has been visiting Honam and engaging in activities that suggest he is trying to win over public support in the region, which is seen as a critical battleground for the upcoming party convention.
The Democratic Party has faced several conflicts in the Honam region during the recent local elections. Former Jeollabuk-do Governor Kim Kwan-young, lawmaker Ahn Ho-young, and Jeollanam-do Governor Kim Young-rok have publicly criticized issues that arose during the primary process.
Honam is considered a key area for the party convention. Lawmaker Song Young-gil, who is also mentioned as a potential candidate, has referenced public sentiment in Honam while positioning himself against Jeong.
Additionally, Jeong has recently expressed strong positions on completely abolishing supplementary investigative powers and the one-person, one-vote system. Despite some internal opposition, he has remained steadfast in his beliefs, asserting his presence within the party.
With Jeong's resignation, the Democratic Party has transitioned to a leadership role under acting floor leader Han Byeong-do. Jeong, Song, and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok are expected to compete for the party leadership in the upcoming elections. Some speculate that Song and Prime Minister Kim may form an alliance to counter Jeong.
Meanwhile, tensions between the pro-Jeong faction and the pro-Yoon faction within the party have escalated recently. During the meeting, pro-Yoon Supreme Council member Kang Deuk-gu expressed dissatisfaction with Jeong, prompting pro-Jeong member Moon Jeong-bok to respond, "President Yoon is the captain of the Republic of Korea, and the captain of the Democratic Party is Jeong Cheong-rae."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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