Chung Chung-rae, a candidate for leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea, took direct aim at his rival Kim Min-seok, saying "those who invoke anti-Lee (anti-Lee Jae-myung) divisionism are the real anti-Lee divisionists." The remarks marked an escalation of the war of nerves that flared at the party's Aug. 17 national convention preliminary primary joint speech event held the previous day.
Chung made the comment on his Facebook page on the 21st, writing, "those who invoke anti-Lee are the anti-Lee, and those who invoke division are the ones sowing division."
"I will speak only of unity and reform. I will not go negative," he wrote. "I will not disparage or insult my opponent. Let us go together — unity and reform."
The remarks came in response to Kim, who had targeted Chung at the first preliminary primary joint speech event the previous day, saying "anti-Lee divisionism must be judged" and "if shielding attacks on the president and fueling internal party conflict is not anti-Lee and divisionism, then what is it?"
In a subsequent post, Chung quoted a famous saying by Mahatma Gandhi (Your beliefs become your thoughts. Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your habits. Your values become your destiny) and said, "let us refrain from words of division and avoid harsh actions."
He also appealed for support, writing, "I will speak of unity and reform. I will act as I have spoken of unity and reform," and "I will protect President Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party, so I ask party members to protect Chung Chung-rae."
