Jung Cheong-rae, the leader of the Democratic Party, emphasized on May 13 that the People Power Party, which he accused of endorsing insurrection, should face a severe public judgment in the upcoming June 3 local elections before any constitutional review of the party's legitimacy.
During a press conference at the National Assembly, Jung stated, "This local election is crucial because we must decisively judge the insurrection forces and eliminate even the slightest trace of insurrection."
He added, "Through this, we aim to fully normalize the state and establish an effective local government that will robustly support the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration. This is the spirit of the times and our historical mission in 2026."
Jung also criticized the People Power Party for rejecting a proposed constitutional amendment. He remarked, "If the People Power Party had any sense of responsibility, they would not have so shamelessly discarded a constitutional amendment that clearly outlined the procedures for declaring and lifting martial law."
Regarding the launch of the People Power Party's campaign committee for the cancellation of charges, led by Chairman Jang Dong-hyuk, Jung dismissed it, saying, "The moment they form a committee for fabricated charges, the public will think, 'It seems there were many fabricated charges under the Yoon Suk-yeol prosecution dictatorship.'"
Jung highlighted the economic achievements of the Lee Jae-myung administration, stating, "Although it has been less than a year since the Lee Jae-myung administration took office, its effectiveness is the strongest in history. The KOSPI index, which barely surpassed 2,500, is now approaching 8,000." He noted that last year's export volume reached a record high, surpassing $700 billion, making South Korea the sixth-largest exporter in the world.
He also pointed out that the GDP growth rate for the first quarter of this year was 1.7%, ranking first among the top 22 countries. He added that the recovery of democracy and stability on the Korean Peninsula have further revitalized the tourism sector, with the country on the brink of welcoming 20 million foreign tourists. "This local election will be a historical turning point for South Korea. The Democratic Party must win for the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration," he urged.
During the press conference, Jung outlined the party's nomination and policy achievements, including holding 37 meetings of the highest decision-making body, implementing a four-no and four-strong nomination policy, ensuring member sovereignty in primaries, and fulfilling practical pledges. He promised five major visions and 15 policy tasks, along with 200 central party pledges.
The five major visions include: local-led growth and balanced national development, economic leap through the growth of new AI industries, supporting citizens' success through opportunity guarantees, creating a stable and fair society, and restoring national normalization and citizen sovereignty. Among the 200 pledges, key initiatives include designating mega-special zones, introducing climate insurance, establishing a self-reliance fund for children, promoting solar income villages, and expanding support housing. Jung described these as "living, closely connected pledges that resonate with the people's lives."
Regarding the election campaign, he announced plans for new initiatives, including the Blue Step campaign, bicycle and pedestrian campaign teams, and policy-focused promotions through blue notebooks, stating, "I will dedicate everything to winning this local election and ensuring the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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