[Anchor]

With the Democratic Party's national convention approaching on August 17, Party Leader Jung Chung-rae has stepped down from his post. Stating that he will look only toward the will of the people and the party, his move is widely interpreted as a formal signal of his intent to seek a consecutive term. Immediately after his resignation, he also met with former President Moon Jae-in.

Reporter Ha Jeongyeon has the story.

[Reporter]

At the Democratic Party's Supreme Council meeting held on the morning of June 24, two days before the formation of the August 17 National Convention Preparatory Committee.

Party Leader Jung Chung-rae announced he would step down, saying he had spent several sleepless nights.

He also made remarks that sounded like a declaration for a "consecutive term bid."

[Jung Chung-rae/Democratic Party Leader: Even if that path is a thorny road of hardship, I will go my way, looking only at the will of the people and the will of the party...]

Seemingly conscious of opposition from some pro-Lee Jae-myung factions, he also emphasized his loyalty to President Lee Jae-myung.

[Jung Chung-rae/Democratic Party Leader: No matter what anyone says, the person who will protect President Lee Jae-myung until the end is me, Jung Chung-rae.]

He also highlighted his commitment to reform, such as prosecution reform, stating, "While the Lee Jae-myung administration advocates for moderate pragmatism, we cannot pause the tasks of reform for even a moment."

A public war of words also broke out between pro-Lee and pro-Jung supreme council members.

[Kang Deuk-gu/Democratic Party Supreme Council Member (Pro-Lee faction): The Democratic Party is in the same boat as the Lee Jae-myung administration. There cannot be two captains on one ship.]

[Moon Jeong-bok/Democratic Party Supreme Council Member (Pro-Jung faction): President Lee Jae-myung is the captain of the Republic of Korea, and the captain of our Democratic Party ship is Party Leader Jung Chung-rae.]

In the afternoon, Leader Jung visited the Seoul International Book Fair.

[Jung Chung-rae/Democratic Party Leader: Ah, when is the President arriving?]

He went to meet former President Moon Jae-in, who was in Seoul to attend the event, without prior coordination. After waiting for some time and speaking with the former President, Jung told reporters, "He held my hand warmly, so I could feel his warmth, and he patted me on the back."

Amid speculation inside and outside the party that Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and Representative Song Young-gil—considered rivals for the party leadership—might form an "anti-Jung Chung-rae coalition," some interpreted Jung's meeting with the former President as an attempt to consolidate pro-Moon supporters.

Reports emerged today that Representative Song mentioned a plan to unify with Prime Minister Kim during a private dinner with President Lee Jae-myung on June 18.

[Park Jie-won/Democratic Party Representative (CBS Radio 'Park Sung-tae's News Show'): (Representative Song Young-gil) said he told him that he would create a plan to go with a three-way structure and eventually unify with Prime Minister Kim Min-seok.]

Prime Minister Kim and Representative Song, who are currently visiting China and the United States respectively, are also expected to officially announce their bids for the party leadership soon.

(Video reporting: Oh Young-chun, Kim Seung-tae | Video editing: Nam Il)