As the first tour primary to elect the next leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea was held in the Chungcheong region on the 1st, the former leader again stressed reform and appealed for support.
That morning in Gongju, South Chungcheong, at the joint speech session of the Democratic Party's 3rd National Party Members' Convention, the former leader introduced himself by saying, "With the Medium-level Serious Crimes Investigation Agency Act and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) Act, amid all kinds of difficulties, Jung Chung-rae finally completed prosecutorial reform by fully abolishing the supplemental investigative authority."
The former leader said, "The Democratic Party's identity is reform," adding, "We will reform and reform again. The Democratic Party won when it pursued reform, and when it failed at reform, it was shunned by the people."
The former leader emphasized live broadcasting of the lawmakers' general meeting as a plan to strengthen party member sovereignty. He said, "I will guarantee party members' right to know," adding, "Even Cabinet meetings are broadcast live, so why can't the lawmakers' general meeting be live? Through live broadcasts of the lawmakers' general meeting, I will ensure party members know what lawmakers are saying."
He also presented a vision for internal unity and expansion of the broad progressive camp. He said, "Within the party, I will achieve the four-way unity (Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in, Lee Jae-myung)," adding, "Supporters of Kim Dae-jung, supporters of Roh Moo-hyun, supporters of Moon Jae-in, and supporters of Lee Jae-myung must unite solidly, and only then will we win."
He went on to say, "I will realize integration and solidarity with the broad democratic and progressive camp," adding, "By integrating, we will win the general election, and by forming a coalition, we will win the presidential election."
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party will announce around 7 p.m. the results of the Chungcheong region rights-holding party members' vote after its party leader and supreme council candidates continue their joint speech sessions in Cheongju, North Chungcheong, and Daejeon.