Jung Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said Wednesday that "arrogant words and behavior that make the public frown will be dealt with decisively, regardless of rank," with just over 30 days remaining before the June 3 local elections.
"Starting with me as party leader, I will rush into the people and the field with a humble and low posture," Jung said at a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on Wednesday.
"Today, eight fellow lawmakers running for metropolitan government head positions are stepping down from their National Assembly seats," Jung said. "We are nominating proven talent who will jump in with capabilities and passion no less than those of the resigning lawmakers." Regarding the National Assembly by-elections to be held alongside the June 3 local elections, he added, "We are continuing strategic nominations with the determination to form a dream team that will run together with President Lee Jae-myung."
"The Half-and-Half Campaign Support Unit that I personally proposed is now in full operation," Jung explained. "It means half for supporting one's own constituency campaign and half for supporting strategic region campaigns, serving as an organization for the entire party to run as one body in the June 3 local elections."
"The June 3 local elections are a very important election that will back the governing momentum of the Lee Jae-myung administration," he said. "As party leader, I will pour all party resources to ensure every single candidate wins. I will do my utmost to pin the rose of victory on each candidate's chest."
Jung pledged to push for a special prosecutor investigation as soon as the activities of the National Assembly Special Committee on State Investigation into Allegations of Political Prosecutor Fabricated Indictments under the Yoon Suk-yeol Administration conclude. The special committee will end its activities with a plenary session on the 30th of this month.
"I am trembling with rage at the evil deeds of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and the unscrupulous political prosecution, which were obsessed with killing political rivals, trampling on the constitutional order, democracy and the rule of law," Jung said. "Since the special committee has approached the substantive truth, a special prosecutor should now take the baton, uncover the full story behind all allegations, and punish those responsible."
Regarding the court's sentencing of first lady Kim Keon-hee to four years in prison and a 50 million won ($36,000) fine on charges including Deutsch Motors stock price manipulation and receiving money from the Unification Church, Jung said it was "a ruling very far removed from the public's sense of justice." He added, "Including the Myung Tae-kyun gate, not a single charge has been properly recognized in connection with allegations that Kim Keon-hee improperly intervened in People Power Party nominations."
