Kim Min-seok Blasts Chung Chung-rae Over 'No Comment' on Anti-President Faction, While Chung Demands Apology Over Shincheonji Allegations

The Democratic Party candidates running for party leader in the main race of the August 17 National Convention—Kim Min-seok, Chung Chung-rae, and Song Young-gil—traveled across regions today (July 26) to appeal to party members.

While candidates Kim and Song launched offensives against Chung, centering on the "party-presidency friction," Chung counterattacked Kim, who had raised suspicions regarding the "Shincheonji political intervention."


Speaking at an invitation lecture held at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology today, Kim criticized, "I said several times as prime minister that the abolition of supplementary investigation powers should be wrapped up in May, so who dragged it out? Isn't it anti-presidential to slander the president as anti-reform?"

He went on to ask, "What kind of defense of the president is it to stay silent and offer 'no comment' when unable to say a single word about the anti-president faction? Do such people have the qualifications to lead the leadership?"

This appeared to target candidate Chung, who responded with a "no comment" regarding writer Yu Si-min's criticism of President Lee.

Kim also emphasized, "Even if we are soft, we will strike fiercely when bad guys appear. We will strike even if scary cults appear."

Previously, Kim had warned about suspicions of Shincheonji's intervention in the national convention.

Kim also directly targeted Supreme Council candidates Choi Min-hee, Han Min-soo, and Lee Sung-yoon, who belong to the pro-Chung Chung-rae faction that formed "Team Chung Chung-rae."

Kim claimed, "They call me an anti-president, pro-Chung candidate, but do you think the Democratic Party is a party that would make three anti-president candidates members of the supreme council? The key point to watch is whether a dynamic of four pro-Lee Jae-myung to one pro-Chung forms, and in the end, all the pro-Chung candidates get dropped for a five-to-zero outcome."

Attending Kim's lecture were Supreme Council candidates classified as pro-Lee Jae-myung, including Kim Yong, Seo Mi-hwa, Park Sun-won, and Lim Mi-ae.

Kim plans to campaign in the central region, including Gongju and Cheonan, this afternoon.


Holding member meetings respectively at the Ulsan City Party office and the Daegu Metro Art Center, Chung stated, "I am certain that the person who will protect President Lee Jae-myung to the end is Chung Chung-rae, who has never betrayed the party or left it once. I will protect the president and the Democratic Party, so please protect Chung Chung-rae."

He further emphasized, "To win the general and presidential elections, we must first unite those who voted for Presidents Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in, and Lee Jae-myung. Beyond the party, we must integrate where integration is needed and form solidarity where solidarity is called for."

He said, "Ulsan, which formed solidarity in the local elections, won, while Pyeongtaek, which divided, lost. We must integrate with the Rebuilding Korea Party as soon as possible," adding, "I will become party leader and lay the groundwork to establish our president for Season 2 of President Lee Jae-myung."

Targeting candidate Kim, who had raised Shincheonji suspicions on Facebook, Chung urged, "It seems this national convention will turn into a self-destructive, minus-sum contest over the Shincheonji controversy. I hope the person who drove the party into chaos apologizes to party members, and that the party takes strict measures."

During the meeting, Chung stated, "I have nothing to do with Shincheonji," adding, "Although he did not mention my name directly, I have no choice but to think he is blowing smoke as if something is there."

Three pro-Chung Supreme Council candidates also attended today's meeting side by side.


Song listened to local sentiments while having lunch with young people in their 20s and 30s at the Gowon Market youth mall in Jinan, Jeollabuk-do.

Song also raised a question, asking, "It has been a little over a year since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung administration, and candidate Chung Chung-rae ran the party—how do you think the party-presidency relations have been?"

When an attendee remarked, "I do think external criticisms are a bit excessive," Song responded, "It's hard to agree with specific criticisms made by figures like writer Yu Si-min, right?"

Targeting candidate Chung on Facebook, Song pointed out, "We cannot entrust the party to forces that shake the president. Reforms that shake the president and only shout slogans might win applause from certain politicians, but they end in general election defeat and regime change."

He emphasized, "The national convention is an election to choose a leader who will stand by the president's side and pave the way for successful reforms," adding, "I will protect the party not as a leader who shakes the president, but as a pillar-like support that firmly holds up the structure."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.