![Jung Cheong-rae, former leader of the Democratic Party, greets lawmakers as he enters a meeting at the National Assembly on June 29. [Photo=Yonhap News]](https://image.ajunews.com/content/image/2026/06/29/20260629165718599609.jpg)
Jung Cheong-rae, former leader of the Democratic Party, hinted at the possibility of legal action against Song Young-gil after Song claimed earlier in the day that Jung did not attend the funeral of the late President Roh Moo-hyun. Jung responded to Song's comments during a press briefing at the National Assembly in the afternoon, stating, "If Song does not apologize for spreading false information, I will take all necessary actions."
When asked by reporters if legal action was a possibility, Jung replied, "He should apologize first," and clarified, "I was in China for studies on the day of the late president's passing."
Jung recounted that after hearing the news, he took a flight to Seoul the following morning and went directly to Bongha Village without returning home. He described arriving in heavy rain to pay his respects by placing chrysanthemums at the memorial site.
He expressed his disappointment, saying, "I attended the funeral, yet I heard that 'Jung Cheong-rae did not attend.' It made me reflect deeply. It’s a sad reality."
Earlier, Song Young-gil appeared on KBS Radio's "Current Affairs" program, stating, "Jung turned his back on President Roh. He couldn't even attend the funeral," and added that Jung was unqualified to discuss the legitimacy of Roh's legacy for Prime Minister Kim Min-seok.
Following Song's remarks, Jung took to Facebook to assert, "Song's claims are 100% false. I naturally mourned and attended the funeral. He should apologize."
Looking ahead, both Jung and Song are expected to compete for party leadership at the upcoming convention scheduled for August 17, alongside other potential candidates such as Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and lawmaker Kim Yong-min.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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