Representative Jeong Cheong-rae, who has established himself as a political companion of President Lee Jae-myung, now stands at the forefront protecting the Lee Jae-myung government as the ruling party leader. Attention is being paid to how the 'Jeong Cheong-rae leadership' leading a strong reform drive will impact the Democratic Party and the entire ruling camp in the future.
Representative Jeong, a figure from the student movement in the 1980s, is regarded as a prominent hardliner within the party. He earned the nickname 'frontline attacker' due to his bold rhetoric and direct messages, and in recent years has been referred to as 'the bodyguard of Lee Jae-myung.' The career of 'politician Jeong Cheong-rae' presents a more complex trajectory.
The new representative, born in 1965 in Geumsan, South Chungcheong Province, graduated from Bommunsa High School in Daejeon and the Department of Industrial Engineering at Korea University. He is a former member of the National Student Representatives Council (JSU) and led the occupation of the U.S. Embassy in South Korea in 1989, serving two years in prison on charges of violating the National Security Law.
After his release, he sustained his livelihood by running a private academy and entered politics through his involvement with 'People Who Love Roh Moo-hyun' (No Sahmo). He first entered the National Assembly in 2004 as a member of the United New Democratic Party from the Mapo-eul district in Seoul, and during the 17th National Assembly, he showcased his presence by leading the abolition of the National Security Law.
His political journey has not been smooth. Despite setbacks such as losing in the 18th general election and being cut off (excluded from candidacy) in the 20th general election, he achieved victory in the 19th general election in 2012 and the 2020 and 2024 general elections, reaching a four-term status.
Even after being eliminated from candidacy in the past, Representative Jeong has shown a 'party-first' attitude, campaigning across the nation. In 2016, after being cut from candidacy, he formed the 'Bigger Campaign Team' to work for the party.
He has also consistently maintained a clear reform line. He undertook hunger strikes for the enactment of the Sewol Ferry Special Law, and during the latter half of the 21st National Assembly, he led amendments to the three broadcasting laws (Broadcasting Act, Korea Broadcasting System Act, EBS Act) as the chairman of the Science, Technology, Information, and Broadcasting Committee. In the first half of the 22nd National Assembly, he served as the chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, which is regarded as the 'upper chamber' of the standing committee. During this time, he also highlighted his presence as a member of the impeachment committee against former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
In 2015, during the New Politics Alliance for Democracy era, he served as a supreme council member under the 'Moon Jae-in leadership' and later secured first place in the supreme council election in 2022, joining the second leadership. He then served as the senior supreme council member under Representative Lee Jae-myung, during which he led the revision of the party constitution and regulations, focusing on strengthening the rights of party members and establishing an exemption clause for the resignation deadline of the party leader, earning the moniker 'bodyguard of Lee Jae-myung.'
In his declaration of candidacy for party leader, he stated, "I will act as one body with President Lee Jae-myung," emphasizing the unified stance of the party and government.
With the emergence of the 'Jeong Cheong-rae system,' the future direction of the Democratic Party is expected to emphasize 'party member-centered,' 'reform priority,' and 'propulsion over compromise.'