Democratic Party of Korea leader Jeong Cheong-rae has been driving a hard line since his inauguration. He strongly expressed his intention to push for a petition to dissolve the People Power Party, referring to it as "a party subject to dissolution." He also announced the launch of a special committee within the party aimed at completing legislation related to his core pledge of "reforms in the prosecution, media, and judiciary," promising to finish the reform work before Chuseok.
However, some in the party are voicing concerns about his 'hardline strategy,' stating that "political flexibility is also necessary for the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration."
On the 5th, Representative Jeong appeared on the YouTube broadcast "Kim Eo-jun's Show, Humility is Hard" and claimed, "The Unified Progressive Party was a conspiracy to instigate rebellion, but this time they have directly instigated rebellion. The People Power Party deserves to be dissolved 10 times over, 100 times over." He particularly emphasized that if the results of the special prosecutor's investigation into the rebellion reveal that not only former President Yoon Suk-yeol but also members of the People Power Party played significant roles in the rebellion, the people would not remain silent, and he would push for a 'petition for the dissolution of the unconstitutional People Power Party.'
Representative Jeong has also proposed a bill, dubbed the 'People's Petition Bill for Dissolution of Political Parties (Amendment to the Constitutional Court Act),' which would allow the government to file a petition for dissolution if it is approved at the National Assembly plenary session. Currently, only the government can file for the dissolution of a political party, but he indicated that the ruling party feels it is a significant burden for the government to take on and that it intends to push forward directly. Despite concerns about possible pushback within the party, he stated, "If my intentions are firm, I will persuade them," showing no signs of backing down.
On that day, Representative Jeong requested cooperation for legislative reforms, meeting with opposition leaders including National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik, Acting Leader and Floor Leader Kim Seon-min of the Rebuilding Korea Party, Kim Jae-yeon, Chair of the Progressive Party, Han Chang-min, Representative of the Social Democratic Party of Korea, and Yong Hye-in, Representative of the Basic Income Party.
On the other hand, he did not schedule a separate meeting with the leadership of the People Power Party. He maintained a tough stance against the opposition, stating after the selection of the party leader on the 2nd, "I will not shake hands with the People Power Party unless there is a reflection and apology regarding the 12.3 emergency martial law rebellion."
Additionally, at the Supreme Council meeting the previous day, Representative Jeong stated, "I will immediately activate the special committees for reforms in the prosecution, media, and judiciary," adding, "I will complete the work by before Chuseok." He appointed Commissioner Min Hyeong-bae, Commissioner Choi Min-hee, and Commissioner Baek Hye-ryun as chairpersons for the respective committees on prosecution reform, media reform, and judicial reform, all of whom are known to have strong reformist inclinations within the party.
Representative Jeong's 'reformist stance' has also been reflected in the party's legislative strategy. The Democratic Party has prioritized the 'Broadcasting Act Amendment' among several contentious bills to be handled at the July extraordinary National Assembly session. Other long-cherished bills of the progressive camp, including the 'Yellow Envelope Law' (Amendment to Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Standards Act) and the Company Act amendment, have been postponed to the August extraordinary session.
Although Representative Jeong lost to his rival, Representative Park Chan-dae, among delegates consisting of lawmakers and local committee chairs during the party convention, he secured more than double the percentage of votes (66.48%) compared to Park (33.52%) in the member voting, achieving a final tally of 61.74% (Park Chan-dae 38.26%). This is seen as a clear victory, reflecting that the sentiment among party members favors the 'hardline reform path' championed by Representative Jeong.
However, within the party, there are divided opinions on Representative Jeong's hardline approach, with some expressing concern and suggesting that given he is still in the early stages of his term, it may be wise to observe the situation.
A Democratic Party lawmaker from the metropolitan area stated, "A too hardline stance could also be a burden for the government." He continued, "If you refuse to engage in any dialogue or compromise with the opposition party, it is obvious that there will be difficulties, and he must know that, too," suggesting that he might take a more relaxed approach while performing his duties. Another lawmaker from the Democratic Party commented, "If something feels off, the lawmakers will definitely voice their opinions to [Representative Jeong]."
A Democratic Party official noted, "He has been saying since his candidacy that strong reform initiatives must be pursued, and since it is his promise, he has no choice but to push hard on it," adding, "Given that the party's sentiment has been confirmed, there is also an obligation to follow it, and it is difficult to express opposing views just after becoming the party leader, hence there is a tendency to wait and see for now."
The 'tuning of tones' between the party and government is expected to emerge as a major task moving forward. Political commentator Park Sang-byeong stated, "President Lee Jae-myung has spoken of the need for cooperation, but if the party leader completely abandons cooperation, it will inevitably be a burden for the Lee Jae-myung administration," and added, "In order to pass livelihood bills and preemptively block public backlash against the operations of the Lee Jae-myung administration, it is necessary to at least show a willingness to reach out to the opposition party."