Kim Min-seok and Jeong Cheong-rae, candidates for the leadership of the Democratic Party, continued their exchanges over allegations of factionalism and ties to the Shincheonji cult during the party convention held on August 17.
During a joint speech at the Daejeon Convention Center, both candidates appealed for final support from party members.
Kim Min-seok emphasized the need to eradicate election manipulation by fake and dual party members, stating, "I will address dual memberships and phantom members. I will offer a quiet exit to fake members." He expressed concern that the relationship between the party and the government might be shaken, despite the Lee Jae-myung administration opening the door to a golden era for South Korea. He urged members to cast their votes seriously, saying, "This convention is crucial for the fate of the nation."
In response, Jeong Cheong-rae countered, "Where are the factionalists and Shincheonji members within the party? What do these allegations have to do with the success of the Lee Jae-myung government? We must unite to win the upcoming general elections." He highlighted his achievements over the past year as party leader, including reforms in the prosecution and judiciary, and called for a renewed commitment to reform to secure victories in both the general and presidential elections.
Meanwhile, Song Young-gil continued to criticize Jeong Cheong-rae, referencing the party's losses in the June 3 local elections and the recent by-elections. He noted, "We lost four out of 14 seats in the by-elections, including critical areas like Seoul and Gyeongnam. This indicates a failure in both the local elections and the by-elections." He expressed skepticism about entrusting future elections to those who claim overwhelming victories, stating, "If we elect an incompetent leadership, we cannot guarantee our future."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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