Democratic Party leadership contenders — former party leader Chung Chung-rae, former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, and Rep. Song Young-gil — engaged in a war of nerves over major pending issues, including the abolition of prosecutors' supplementary investigation powers and revision of the one-person-one-vote system for party members, at a National Assembly lawmakers' workshop on Wednesday. With such gatherings of party lawmakers being rare, the contenders actively communicated with lawmakers and the media in a bid to draw attention.
The three leadership contenders actively addressed recently emerging internal and external issues when they met with reporters during the lawmakers' workshop held at the Dragon City Hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, that day. Having relatively refrained from direct verbal clashes until now, the three appeared determined to rebut each other's arguments. All three candidates said of the timing of their official candidacy declarations, "We will confirm and announce it soon."
Chung and Kim clashed over the so-called "May processing proposal" related to the government's abolition of supplementary investigation powers, which has escalated into a truth-game dispute. Chung dismissed the claim, saying, "I have never heard of such a proposal, nor do I remember it," and "The government did not submit a bill."
In response, Kim rebutted, "As I have said repeatedly, I judged it would be better to divide the prosecution reform bill processing into first and second stages and process the first stage early after reviewing the first-stage prosecution reform discussions, and I conveyed this to the party through various channels," adding, "I don't think I need to say more."
They also clashed over the "one-person-one-vote system," Chung's key achievement. Kim said, "I was originally an advocate of the one-person-one-vote system myself," but added, "In this party convention, we should preserve its intent, but if more comprehensive supplementation is needed, it is a matter to be addressed step by step." His point was that some system supplementation is needed.
Chung criticized the emergence of differences among the leadership contenders as "an attempt to shake the one-person-one-vote system." He raised his voice, saying, "Before the June 1987 pro-democracy uprising, we could not elect the president with our own hands. The one-person-one-vote system is a revolutionary matter on par with that," and "Because party members so dislike and are angered by any remarks that even slightly damage this, I am speaking on their behalf." Rep. Song is demanding supplementary measures to prevent the alienation of the 2030 generation, who make up a small share of party members. Chung drew a line, saying, "It is not in the party charter, so it cannot be done."
Rep. Song went on the offensive against Chung over the government's "three mega projects." Meeting with reporters at the National Assembly ahead of the workshop, he said of North Jeolla Province Governor Lee Won-taek's "North Jeolla alienation" argument, "It is not appropriate. Chung also made remarks in agreement." His criticism was that Lee's remarks — to the effect that North Jeolla was left out due to mega project announcements skewed toward Gwangju and South Jeolla — and Chung's remarks in agreement amounted to hampering the Lee Jae-myung administration's policies.
In response, Chung explained, "I express regret toward the person who made the remarks (Rep. Song) and the media," and "When I went to Gunsan, it was a North Jeolla resident who is a market merchant who said that. It was not something I said; I heard those people say it, and I said I would make up for and heal their sense of loss."
Meanwhile, at the workshop, the DP renewed its resolve to support as one body the legislation of state tasks in the second year of the Lee Jae-myung administration, marking the opening of the second half of the 22nd National Assembly. Han Byung-do, acting party leader and floor leader, said, "The second-half National Assembly is another watershed that will determine the Republic of Korea's future," and "We will complete the legislation of the Lee Jae-myung administration's major state tasks by the end of this year."
Toward the People Power Party, which has not been cooperating on parliamentary organization, he said, "Please cooperate on the election of the remaining seven standing committee chairs," and "We will certainly improve the meaningless filibuster (unlimited debate) and the now-useless fast-track system so that lawmakers' legislative activities do not stop."
Prime Minister Han Seong-sook and presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik also attended the workshop that day. Han said, "For the successful implementation of tasks such as the three mega projects, close cooperation and communication among the party, government, and presidential office is important."
In the first session, Kang gave a lecture on "State Governance Direction and Governance Plans for the Second Year in Office." Floor spokesperson Kim Sung-hoe said, "Kang explained 'irreplaceable Korea' through four keywords: public-private partnership, locally-led growth, sharing the fruits of growth with all, and becoming an irreplaceable party for the DP." In the following session, Policy Committee Chair Han Jeong-ae narrowed down 67 second-half legislative tasks and urged, "Please discuss them swiftly starting in July." Lawmakers reportedly presented the view that the party should focus on the 2030 generation, who are turning their backs on the DP.
