The Democratic Party of Korea is experiencing internal strife over its nominees for the second comprehensive special counsel. The party recommended a lawyer who defended former SSANGBANGWOOL Chairman Kim Seong-tae, who gave testimony unfavorable to President Lee Jae-myung in the "cash-for-Pyongyang" case. As calls for the leadership to take responsibility mounted within the party, party leader Jung Chung-rae personally moved to put out the fire.
On Feb. 9, at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, Jung said regarding the nominees for the second comprehensive special counsel, "As party leader, I am sorry and apologize for causing the president trouble over this matter," adding, "Today (the 9th), I once again offer my apology."
Jung added, "Watching this special counsel nomination mishap, I felt we must correct past customs and practices," emphasizing, "From now on, we will conduct thorough vetting through the party's personnel recommendation committee and have the Supreme Council review it again to prevent personnel mishaps by overhauling the system."
The Democratic Party recommended attorney Jeon Jun-cheol of Lee & Ko as a nominee for the second comprehensive special counsel. The recommendation reflected the views of Supreme Council member Lee Sung-yoon. It later emerged that Jeon had defended former Chairman Kim Seong-tae in connection with the cash-for-Pyongyang case. Kim, who said, for example, that "then-Gyeonggi Gov. Lee Jae-myung would have known all the circumstances at the time of the cash transfer to the North," is a figure who gave testimony unfavorable to President Lee.
There was strong criticism within the party over the special counsel nominee. Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Moon-soo shared a statement from The Democratic National Innovation Council, a pro-Lee Jae-myung outside group, saying, "Supreme Council member Lee Sung-yoon should step down immediately, and the leadership should return to its place as the ruling party responsible for state affairs." Pro-Lee lawmaker Park Hong-keun also raised his voice, saying, "Is the party leadership in its right mind?"
Supreme Council member Lee Sung-yoon, who recommended Jeon, moved to explain at the Supreme Council meeting that day. Lee said, "Attorney Jeon was a lawyer who faced repression, including being subject to a search and seizure under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration," adding, "It is regrettable that political interpretations and conspiracy-theory suspicions are being raised in the process of recommending a special counsel."