The Democratic Party is facing ongoing controversy following remarks made by Song Young-gil, who stated that former party leader Jeong Cheong-rae did not attend the funeral of former President Roh Moo-hyun. Although Song issued an apology on June 30, Jeong has firmly rejected the notion that he is Roh's political successor, suggesting that internal conflicts within the party are unlikely to subside soon.
On the same day, Song publicly apologized for his earlier comments regarding Jeong's absence from Roh's funeral. In a Facebook post, he clarified that Jeong actually attended the funeral the day after it occurred, stating, "I correct my statement and apologize."
However, during a press conference after visiting Roh's gravesite, Song emphasized that Jeong had been a vocal critic of Roh during the negotiations for the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and insisted on the need to protect and support President Lee Jae-myung, whom he considers Roh's true political heir.
Despite Song's attempts to clarify, supporters of Jeong, known as the Pro-Jeong faction, have publicly expressed their dissatisfaction, warning of potential divisions within the party ahead of the upcoming convention. Han Min-soo, a lawmaker who served as Jeong's chief secretary during his leadership, stated, "It is regrettable that he has created another controversy by dragging in statements that Jeong did not make. A simple apology would suffice."
Han further urged against creating a regressive atmosphere as the party prepares for the convention, asking, "What good does hostility and division within our ranks do? I respectfully encourage everyone to work together for the success of this government and the re-establishment of our party, which is a crucial task for the democratic reform movement."
Lawmaker Choi Min-hee also weighed in, stating, "The Korea-U.S. FTA is a policy decision. There can be pros and cons regarding policies. Why can't we avoid biased interpretations? Who benefits and who suffers from this?"
Earlier, on June 29, Song appeared on KBS Radio and asserted that Jeong had never attended Roh's funeral, implying that Jeong is not Roh's political successor. In response, Jeong demanded an apology from Song after a parliamentary meeting, stating, "I will take all necessary actions to protect my honor."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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