The three leading contenders for the Democratic Party of Korea leadership sat side by side at the same table at a Democratic Party workshop for lawmakers on the afternoon of the 3rd. They were seen sharing various stories and bursting into hearty laughter, but they also drew clear lines, stating different positions on several pending issues.
The Democratic Party held a workshop for members of the National Assembly at the Seoul Dragon City Hotel in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 3rd to prepare for the second half of the 22nd National Assembly. The event was to discuss plans for managing the National Assembly in the latter half and key legislative tasks by top committees.
The focus was on the three leadership contenders. At the round head table closest to the dais, former Chair Jung Chung-rae, former Chair Song Young-gil and former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok sat side by side. Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, Floor Leader Han Byeong-do, Prime Minister Han Seong-sook and Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Ik-pyo also sat at the head table.
The leadership contenders, along with other lawmakers, chanted slogans such as "The Democratic Party stabilizes people's livelihoods, the Democratic Party boosts economic vitality, the Democratic Party drives growth and takeoff, a working Democratic Party, an irreplaceable Republic of Korea." Even while seated at the table, they were occasionally seen facing each other, smiling and talking.
However, there were notable differences over several current issues. Meeting reporters first, former Chair Song criticized North Jeolla Province Gov. Lee Won-taeg for mentioning a "North Jeolla Province marginalization theory" in connection with the three mega projects. Former Chair Song said, "I welcome what Busan Mayor Jeon Jae-soo said, that 'if you envy, you lose,'" adding, "It is not appropriate to feel slighted seeing that. It is a passive attitude." Gov. Lee is known to be close to former Chair Jung.
Former Chair Song also cited targeting the 2030 young generation as a key task for the Democratic Party and called for supplementing the "one person, one vote system." Regarding giving weight to the 2030 generation within the "one person, one vote system," Song said it is "a matter sufficiently worth reviewing."
By contrast, former Chair Jung, on the same issue, said, "It is not in the party constitution. We cannot do it," adding, "There is no clause in the party constitution and rules that gives weight to a strategic demographic."
The three candidates also showed subtle differences over the supplementary investigation authority. Former Chair Song said, "Whether to have supplementary investigation authority is not something to weaponize politically," while former Chair Jung said, "My position is that the supplementary investigation authority must be abolished entirely, and that is my unwavering, imperishable principle." Former Chair Jung added, "Coal gas seeps through small holes," saying, "This time we must perfectly plug the holes where coal gas leaks."
Former Chair Jung also flatly said regarding the government's proposal to handle the Criminal Procedure Act in May, "I have never heard such a proposal." In contrast, former Prime Minister Kim said, "I said it would be good to handle it early," adding, "If it had been handled in May as originally thought, we could have had some leeway, but although it's a bit delayed, if we pick up the pace and handle it, there will be no setback to launching the Public Prosecution Office and the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency in October."
Regarding opinion poll results putting him ahead, former Prime Minister Kim said, "It is because the Lee Jae-myung administration's direction of pragmatic integration aligns and matches with my direction," adding, "It is the judgment of the base that the Democratic Party must innovate in that direction to reliably secure victory in the general election."
Meanwhile, Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik, who attended the workshop, asked the lawmakers to "become an irreplaceable party." Kim Seong-hoe, the Democratic Party floor spokesperson, met with reporters during the event and said, "Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik explained the work of an irreplaceable Republic of Korea by dividing it into four keywords," citing public-private joint efforts, region-led growth, benefit for all, and rules. The floor spokesperson Kim said, "The public changes very easily, and politics is a 100% demand-centered market, so there was a request to become a party that responds well to public demand."