Former Democratic Party of Korea leader Jung Chung-rae said that if he is elected party leader at the Aug. 17 party convention, he will embrace former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and move to promote unity within the party. He also said, "As soon as I become party leader, President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating will rise by more than 10%."
On the morning of the 11th, appearing on YouTuber Kim Ou-joon's program "Being humble is hard News Factory," the former leader was asked about the possibility of mending ties with the former prime minister and said, "I'm not that petty," adding, "Even though I was cut off in the primary, I did not leave the party and devoted myself to it." He continued, "In the spirit of putting the party first and for the greater good, I will embrace lawmaker Kim Min-seok."
However, regarding the "Shincheonji allegations" raised by the former prime minister, the former leader stressed the need for vetting, saying, "Of course, if I become party leader, I should take measures to resolve the allegations." Even so, he said, "Regardless of that, I will do everything I can so that Kim Min-seok and Jung Chung-rae personally, as well as the party members who supported Kim Min-seok and those who supported Jung Chung-rae, can come together."
When asked if the stance would be the same even if Kim is not elected party leader, the former leader said, "Since not becoming party leader is also something chosen and decided by the party members, I will accept it with humility," adding, "I will do my utmost for unity within the party."
He pointed to the defection of the Democratic Party's traditional base as the reason for the recent drop in President Lee Jae-myung's approval rating. He said, "It seems the core base has in fact turned away now," adding, "We need to make it so the traditional base can return with passion," and, "In that sense, as soon as Jung Chung-rae becomes party leader, the president's approval rating will rise by more than 10%."
He added, "Thinking of the comradeship of those who worked together to overcome the Yoon Suk-yeol insurrection, I believe restoring that is the way to raise the president's approval rating," and said, "The symbolic act is Jung Chung-rae becoming party leader."