As the first traveling primary to elect the next leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea kicked off on the 1st in Chungcheong, former Chair Jung Chung-rae said of former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, "You need to have a sense of shame." After Kim raised the issue of responsibility for the defeat in the June 3 local elections and moved to attack the former chair, Jung brought up Kim's past interview remarks again.
On the afternoon of the 1st at a joint speech event for the Democratic Party's 3rd National Convention in Daejeon, the former chair unleashed unrestrained criticism at the former prime minister. He said, "The responsibility for the last local election defeat lies with Lee Jae-myung; it was because of Lee Jae-myung's personal judgment. That's what Kim Min-seok said four years ago," referring to the former prime minister's past interview remarks.
He continued, "I will not engage in the kind of politics that blames Lee Jae-myung four years ago and Jung Chung-rae four years later," adding, "That is exactly self-serving politics." Pointing at the former chair with his hand, he said, "A person needs to have a sense of shame."
He also emphasized the need to merge with the Rebuilding Korea Party. The former chair said, "You say we should join hands with conservative forces, so why can't we integrate with the Rebuilding Korea Party, which is closest to the Democratic Party?" and added, "Remember those who opposed when I proposed a merger with the Rebuilding Korea Party."
While maintaining that he would draw a line against negative attacks, the former chair continued his criticism of the former prime minister. He said, "Those who attacked the Democratic Party by raising suspicions about Shincheonji and hurt party members must apologize," adding, "I will take stern action against conduct that uses the derogatory moniker and language of mockery and hate such as 'Moon-Jo-Teol-Rae-Yu (Moon Jae-in, Cho Kuk, Kim Ou-joon (Teol), Jung Chung-rae, Ryu Si-min).'"