▲ Representative Song Young-gil enters the general meeting of lawmakers held at the National Assembly on the 14th.
Representative Song Young-gil, a candidate for the leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea, directly criticized his rival, former representative Jeong Cheong-rae, again today (July 15), stating, "There is a sense that he looks down on President Lee Jae-myung."
Appearing on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus," Representative Song made the claim while mentioning the history of both former representative Jeong and President Lee having been active in "Jeongtong" (People Communicating with Chung Dong-young), a group formed to support then-candidate Chung Dong-young in the 2007 presidential election.
He stated, "When former representative Jeong was involved in the 'Jeongtong' group, he held a higher position, while President Lee was a lawyer at the time."
When asked by the host if that perception from the past has persisted, Representative Song replied, "I think there is an aspect of that."
He continued, "I believe former representative Jeong has continuously contemplated his own independent politics," adding, "Since both he and I became members of the National Assembly before President Lee, perhaps that mindset remains. He seems to look down on him, so to speak. There should be respect for the head of state, rather than just Lee Jae-myung as a private individual, and I feel there is a lack of such respect."
Regarding former representative Jeong's remarks in a media interview the previous day—where he suggested that their party should not have fielded a candidate in the June 3 Pyeongtaek-eul by-election, which they lost due to a split in the pan-ruling party vote—Representative Song criticized him, saying, "That is a very irresponsible statement. It is the same as telling one's son, 'You should have been aborted instead of being born.'"
When asked about his strategy to differentiate himself from another rival, former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Representative Song argued, "I am the only candidate among those running for party leader who has experience as a head of a metropolitan local government," adding, "Although former Prime Minister Kim has experience as a prime minister, that is an advisory role."
Regarding real estate policies currently under consideration by the government and the ruling party, Representative Song stated, "To resolve the situation where supply is not being provided properly, we must introduce modular housing," and added, "If I become party leader, I will ensure the 'Nuguna House' project, which I have been promoting, is implemented."
"Nuguna House" is a real estate policy for ordinary citizens and those who do not own homes, proposed by Representative Song during his tenure as Mayor of Incheon. It allows residents to live in a home for 10 years while paying rent at 80 to 85 percent of the market rate, with the option to purchase the property at a price fixed at the time of move-in.
When asked if he had met with President Lee ahead of his bid for the party leadership, Representative Song avoided a direct answer, saying, "NCND (Neither Confirm Nor Deny), it is 'Lee-sim-song-sim' (President Lee's heart is Song's heart)."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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