Former Democratic Party of Korea leader Jung Chung-rae formalized a bid to extend his term in the party leadership at the party convention in August, saying, "I will run relying only on public sentiment and party sentiment." He added, "I will not use the party leadership to run for president," and said, "I will devote my life and body to winning back power."
Jung announced his official bid for re-election as party leader at a press conference at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 13th. Supporters gathered at the site held yellow and blue balloons and chanted "Al-jeong-jjik (Got it, I will vote for Jung Chung-rae)," responding to Jung's declaration. Lawmakers Kim Young-hwan and Lee Seong-yun, considered part of the pro-Jung Chung-rae faction, and Lee Ji-eun, head of the Mapo-gap party chapter, also attended to show support.
Jung stressed close cooperation with President Lee Jae-myung. He said, "We will work in perfect sync to support the stable management of state affairs by the Lee Jae-myung administration," and added, "As we have done so far, we will continue as a one-team, one-voice among the party, government, and Blue House, standing by President Lee Jae-myung to the end." He also said, "I will not seek personal gain," adding, "I have no intention of using the party leadership to run for president." He continued, "I will be the architect of victory in the presidential election," and "I will run the party fairly and justly."
Jung emphasized that he has been a "single-hearted Democrat" who has never left the party. He said, "Since joining the Democratic Party, I have never left," and "I have done as the party asked." Referring to being dropped from nominations in the 2016 general election, he said, "It was an unfair cut-off, but I served in a humble capacity with the resolve to be a sacrifice for victory in the general election."
At the same time, Jung outlined plans to support the Lee Jae-myung administration's economic and peace policies while pursuing unity and solidarity within the broad democratic-progressive camp. He also proposed key pledges including internal party unity, strengthening party member sovereignty, live broadcasts of party caucus meetings, and introducing votes by all party members in internal decision-making on pending issues.
Immediately after announcing his candidacy, Jung met with reporters and, asked about communication and his relationship with the president, said, "During the term, I have met and communicated with the president in various ways," adding, "At one point, fake news spread that 'Jung Chung-rae has never had a one-on-one meeting with President Lee Jae-myung,' but we have often met alone. We simply did not make it public."
He also maintained a hard-line stance on prosecution reform centered on abolishing prosecutors' supplemental investigation authority. In response to arguments that the need for supplemental investigation authority has been raised in light of the recent Jang Yoon-gi case, he said, "Prosecution reform is the banner and symbol of Democratic Party reform, and we will not undermine it," stressing, "The separation of investigation and indictment is a fundamental principle of prosecution reform." He added, "Rather than supplemental investigation authority, many issues can be resolved by having multiple bodies such as a serious crimes investigation agency conduct investigations, while, within the scope of not conducting investigations, providing prosecutors with confirmation and interview rights."