Jung Cheong-rae, former leader of the Democratic Party, emphasized the need for unity within the party on June 28, urging members to recall President Lee Jae-myung's spirit of solidarity. His remarks come amid rising internal dissent following writer Yoo Si-min's comments on the so-called "expansion theory."
In a Facebook post, Jung stated, "When we are united, we win; when we are divided, we lose. President Lee has always emphasized unity." He called on party members to reflect on Lee's principles of resilience and solidarity.
Jung also highlighted his past alliance with Lee during a state of emergency, aiming to quell internal conflicts. He remarked, "I stood alongside President Lee as a comrade, fighting against the oppressive regime of Yoon Suk-yeol's prosecution. When the media and prosecutors sought to destroy Lee, I fought beside him. During the illegal state of emergency, I risked my life to breach the National Assembly's walls. We united as comrades when Yoon's military sought to obliterate democracy."
He recalled the despair felt during the approval of the arrest warrant for Lee and the anger shared during the state of emergency, urging members to draw inspiration from the legacies of former presidents Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in to further Lee's history.
Jung reiterated the importance of unity, stating, "We become stronger through integration and win through solidarity. Unity and collaboration are the keys to the success of Lee's government and the restoration of power. To achieve this, a broad-minded, comradely mindset is essential. We must refrain from using mocking, hateful, or derogatory language among ourselves."
He concluded by pledging to foster a strong sense of camaraderie and warm language, calling for collective efforts toward the success of Lee's government, victory in the upcoming elections, and the restoration of power.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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