As the Democratic Party of Korea begins its Aug. 17 national convention tour primary, tensions are rising between the pro-Myung (pro–Lee Jae-myung) faction and the pro-Chung (pro–Jung Chung-rae) faction. The pro-Myung faction pressed that candidate Jung Chung-rae lied in his tour primary speech, while the pro-Chung faction raised allegations that candidate Kim Min-seok engaged in illegal electioneering.

Democratic Party of Korea leadership contenders Jung Chung-rae (left) and lawmaker Kim Min-seok sit during a joint speech event for party leader and Supreme Council at the Busan Exhibition & Convention Center (BEXCO) on the 2nd./Courtesy of News1

Pro-Myung Supreme Council member Kang Deuk-gu and pro-Chung Supreme Council member Park Gyu-hwan each made these remarks at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 3rd.

Kang said, "Candidate Jung summoned me on the theme of merger at the national convention," and added, "In short, Candidate Jung traded on President Lee Jae-myung's name and told a lie." This was aimed at Jung's remarks the previous day during the Busan tour primary, when, regarding a merger with the Rebuilding Korea Party, he said to Kim, "When the party leadership was pushing the merger, you opposed it, and now you ask why it failed. You should have some shame."

After the meeting, speaking to reporters, Kang said, "Candidate Jung himself knows best what lie he told, and I think he should undo the knot he tied," and added, "It is serious for someone who drags in others to make it seem like the fault lies with them to say he will serve one more term as party leader."

Aiming at candidate Kim, Park said, "There are allegations that some district committees under the Seoul Metropolitan Chapter used the party membership list to make calls supporting candidate Kim," and added, "If allegations arise about illegal electioneering using district committee organizations or the party membership list, there must be an ex officio investigation and the results should be disclosed transparently."

He continued, "In such a situation, if even the Central Party Election Commission appears to take sides with a specific candidate or to be taking sides, the party will inevitably fall into uncontrollable chaos," and added, "Rather than foregrounding the achievements of the Lee Jae-myung administration, they are seeking their own or their faction's paltry political interests."

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