The controversy surrounding the remarks of candidate Jung Bong-joo, a candidate for the Democratic Party of Korea ahead of the party’s national convention, about the “Myungpali” (Lee Jae-myung’s arm) continues as the convention approaches in four days.
Earlier, candidate Jung stated at a press conference on the 12th, “I will uproot the power of Lee Jae-myung’s arm,” leading to speculation that it was aimed at the ‘The Minjoo Nationwide Reform Conference’, which entered the party in large numbers in the 22nd National Assembly, starting with the Won-oe pro-Jung organization.
The Reform Conference issued a statement today (14th), criticizing, “We cannot understand why candidate Jung, who has endured solely through the power of party members, would insult party members and undercut the party’s sovereignty movement,” and demanding, “If the target named ‘Myungpali’ by candidate Jung is the Reform Conference, publicly clarify whether it is correct.”
Some strong party members also held a rally in front of the Democratic Party’s headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, this afternoon, calling for candidate Jung’s resignation.
Candidate Jung initially took an overwhelming lead in the early stages of the regional tour primaries that began on the 20th of last month, but Kim Min-seok has risen and is currently in second place in terms of accumulated votes.
In related news, Park Won-seok, a close aide to candidate Jung, sparked controversy by stating on a recent radio broadcast that “Candidate Jung is very upset about Lee Jae-myung’s intervention in the highest council election,” and “He said that someone like Lee Jae-myung should not become president.”
[Photo Source: Yonhap News]
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