Woo Won-sik, some party members leaving the race for National Assembly Speaker… Rep. Jeong Cheong-rae also says, “Please endure and continue together for Lee Jae-myung”
“It would be good to discuss and criticize differences in opinions, judgments, and decisions, without giving up, but move forward together,” said Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party’s leader. It is interpreted that after relatively moderate lawmaker Woo Won-sik defeated Rep. Choo Mi-ae in the party’s internal election and was elected as a candidate for National Assembly Speaker, some hardline party members are moving to leave, prompting efforts to calm the situation.
“Let’s do it together with party members, the Democratic Party,” the leader said at the Chungcheong Conference on the 19th.
The leader said, “Recently, there may have been some stories where our party members felt disappointed and hurt by the party,” and added, “There are not always fair and comfortable paths. People may have different thoughts. Rather than saying my thoughts are right and other thoughts that do not fit are wrong, it would be good to consider that they are just different.”
“I believe that we need to have fierce debates because we are opening up new paths. Mistakes may occur in the experimenting process, and opinions may differ in the early stages of embarking on a new path,” the leader emphasized. “We should criticize what needs to be criticized, speak up what needs to be said, and take responsibility while aligning with each other.”
The leader continued, “However, one clear thing is that it is difficult to determine which side is right now,” and added, “Even if things don’t fit well, if we overcome small differences and fill in the gaps towards our big goal, we should eventually hold hands and reach that destination together.”
“Deciding that something is wrong just because there are differences and turning away from it ultimately ends,” the leader said. “If anyone still thinks they should leave the party to pressure or punish, please cut off your party membership fees. Once you leave, it will be very difficult to come back.” The leader added, “Rather, it would be good if you could say, ‘I will take more responsibility’ especially during these times.”
Rep. Jung Cheong-rae, who posted on Facebook right after Rep. Woo’s victory in the National Assembly Speaker candidate internal competition on the 17th, saying “The party owned by its members, still has a long way to go,” also stated on that day, “When you get angry, you may raise your voice loudly, and then your thoughts change. We cannot stop or bend here. Please endure a little for the party, for South Korea, and for Lee Jae-myung.”
[Photo description: Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party, attending the “With Party Members – Democratic Party Does” event at the Daejeon Convention Center on the 19th afternoon, delivering greetings. ⓒYonhap News]