Jung Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party, dismissed rumors about his candidacy for the party convention scheduled for August, stating, "I will only be around until 6 PM on June 3, when the local election vote counting begins."
During an appearance on the YouTube channel "Kim Eo-jun's Humility is Difficult News Factory," Jung responded to a question about speculation surrounding the party convention by saying, "It seems there are various discussions in the media about the need for the party leader to meet more candidates ahead of the elections, which is being interpreted as a strategy for the upcoming convention."
He added, "As party leader, I am focused on doing my duty without considering criticism. I am solely thinking about the moment of the June 3 local elections."
Jung also assessed the political landscape ahead of the local elections, stating, "Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam are challenging but feasible, and Seoul is also difficult. I believe there may be an unconscious optimism within our party, even if we are not consciously aware of it."
He emphasized, "We should aim high but maintain a humble attitude. Until the elections are over, we must work with a sense of urgency and determination."
Regarding the multi-candidate race in Pyeongtaek, he stated, "As the leader of the Democratic Party, I must ensure candidates are nominated in all regions, including Pyeongtaek, and I will work hard for the election of candidate Kim Yong-nam. However, we must prepare for numerous variables and unexpected situations that may arise during the election."
On the possibility of a unification between Park Min-sik of the People Power Party and independent candidate Han Dong-hoon in Busan's Buk-gap district, Jung predicted, "Given the dynamics within the People Power Party, I don't think their leader, Jang Dong-hyuk, would want one candidate to prevail, so unification is unlikely."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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