Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam Primary Heats Up Over Election Responsibility and Shincheonji Allegations

[Anchor]

The second regional primary for the Democratic Party's upcoming August 17 national convention is currently underway in Busan. Party leadership candidates Kim Min-seok, Jeong Cheong-rae, and Song Young-gil clashed fiercely over issues including responsibility for the June 3 local elections and allegations involving Shincheonji.

Reporter Kang Min-u has the details.

[Reporter]

Kim Min-seok secured first place by a narrow margin of just 303 votes over Jeong Cheong-rae in the ordinary party members' voting for the party leadership during yesterday's Chungcheong region primary on August 1.

Targeting candidate Jeong again today, Kim stated, "We must put an end to the vicious cycle of the Myeong-Cheong conflict."

[Kim Min-seok / Democratic Party Leadership Candidate: Those who advocate for extending the vicious cycle of the Myeong-Cheong conflict for another year are leading both the party and the country to ruin.]

Kim also raised his voice, warning that he will refer individuals who engaged in wrongful factional behavior during this election process, or those who launched criticisms and instigations against rival candidates' speeches, to the Ethics Committee.

In response, candidate Jeong counterattacked, stating that he will report candidate Kim—who raised suspicions about Shincheonji's intervention in the Democratic Party's convention—to the Ethics Committee for inflicting wounds on party members.

[Jeong Cheong-rae / Democratic Party Leadership Candidate: Candidate Kim Min-seok, who has driven the party into the risk of being labeled an unconstitutional party, will certainly be referred to the Ethics Committee and judged once I become party leader.]

Targeting Kim further, Jeong remarked that someone who betrays once will betray again, emphasizing that he will keep his loyalty to President Lee until the very end.

Targeting candidate Jeong, candidate Song Young-gil criticized him for remaining silent regarding writer Rhyu Si-min's critical remarks targeting the Lee Jae-myung administration.

[Song Young-gil / Democratic Party Leadership Candidate: Shouldn't we defend those attacking the Lee Jae-myung administration? Why do you look at writer Rhyu Si-min's curses with the eyes of Buddha while attacking your fellow candidates?]

Today's Democratic Party primary tour for the Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam region will feature joint speeches held in Ulsan, Busan, and Changwon, with the results of the ordinary party members' vote scheduled to be announced after 7:00 PM.

(Camera Reporter: Shin Dong-hwan, Video Editor: Lee Seung-jin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.