Former leader Song Young-gil aimed at former leader Jung Chung-rae, saying, "When former President Roh Moo-hyun pushed for the South Korea-U.S. FTA (free trade agreement), most Democratic Party lawmakers fiercely opposed it, and Jung Chung-rae was at the forefront," expanding the "legitimate successor" debate into a matter of past history. In response, Jung said the debate over legitimate succession should stop.
On the 30th, Song wrote on Facebook, "(Jung) did come from the early Nosamo circle, but while working as a key member of Chung Dong-young's 'Jeongtong Meeting,' he drifted away from Nosamo," adding, "I do not think it is right for (Jung) to talk about former President Roh's legitimate successor to attack other candidates."
He continued, "The gist of my remarks is that in the face of former President Roh's death, we all feel 'Jimotmi (sorry we couldn't protect you),'" adding, "The legitimate successors of Roh Moo-hyun now are not Jung Chung-rae, Kim Min-seok, or Song Young-gil, but awakened citizens who vow to protect and ensure the success of President Lee Jae-myung, the second Roh Moo-hyun."
That day, Song visited the grave of former President Roh in Bongha Village, Gimhae, South Gyeongsang. After paying his respects, Song told reporters that, contrary to what President Lee Jae-myung had hinted, Jung is pushing for the "complete abolition of supplementary investigative powers" and is trying to "weaponize politics."
Jung explained that he has never mentioned legitimate succession in his own words. He also defined the legitimate succession debate as a frame and proposed stopping the wasteful argument.
That day, Jung wrote on Facebook, "I have never uttered even the first syllable of 'legitimate succession' from my own mouth. I have no intention to," adding, "I have never claimed to be the legitimate successor of any great president. As I stated in my resignation message, I said we should carry on the history of the four presidents."
He went on, "I hope there will be no chiming in with the media's frame that twists and imagines things I never said into 'legitimate successor or not,'" adding, "I simply respect President Kim Dae-jung, love President Roh Moo-hyun, like President Moon Jae-in, and want to remain a comrade and fellow soldier of President Lee Jae-myung."