Song Young-gil, the longest-serving member of the Democratic Party, expressed his strong reaction on June 11 to President Lee Jae-myung's comment about the possibility of becoming a scapegoat, referencing the history of impeachment and imprisonment of former presidents. He stated that it was a wake-up call and emphasized the need for unity and inclusiveness within the party.
In a post on his Facebook, Song recalled the painful memory of bidding farewell to the late former President Roh Moo-hyun in 2009, saying, "I still vividly remember crying from the heart. Through that pain, I learned how deep the wounds of division can be."
He added, "When criticism and scrutiny of each other become excessive and cross the line, it ultimately does not help achieve our greater goals."
Song further asserted, "There is no need for those who share the same vision to poke each other's eyes. Instead of conflict and division, we must embrace and unite to uphold democracy and improve the lives of the people. This is a serious mandate. Let's succeed in the Lee Jae-myung government through the power of unity and change the lives of the citizens."
Additionally, there are speculations that Song will challenge for the party leadership at the upcoming convention on August 17. He has recently shown a sharp response toward Jung Cheong-rae, who is also mentioned as a candidate for re-election.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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