Chung Chung-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. Yonhap News
Jung Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, held a press conference Tuesday targeting the June 3 local elections, declaring that “the People Power Party (PPP) must face the harsh judgment of public sentiment in the local elections.” The move is seen as an attempt to rally the party’s base by escalating the offensive, as various opinion polls show the support gap narrowing between Democratic Party and PPP candidates.
“The June 3 local elections are exactly 21 days away, and this is the first nationwide election to be held since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung government,” Jung said. “We will take a more humble stance and align everything with the public’s expectations.”
Jung also took aim at the PPP, labeling its nominations as “Yoon Again nominations” and framing the local elections around the theme of “eradicating insurrection.” “There are even candidates who, without a shred of shame or guilt, brazenly make excuses saying ‘I am Yoon Again,’ and they are not hard to find,” he said. “Just look at the constitutional amendment that was scrapped due to the PPP’s obstruction — the insurrection is still ongoing.”
Jung continued, “This constitutional amendment contained provisions to make the procedures for declaring and lifting martial law clearer, drawing lessons from the December 3 emergency martial law insurrection. If the PPP had felt even the slightest sense of responsibility as a public party, it would not have so recklessly scrapped this amendment.”
Jung emphasized the argument for judgment against the opposition party. “I have continuously warned that the PPP is an anti-constitutional, anti-democratic force that defends insurrection, and could become subject to an unconstitutional party dissolution ruling,” he said. “Before any unconstitutional party dissolution ruling, they must face the harsh judgment of public sentiment in this June 3 local election.” He added, “This is why the upcoming local election is so important. Through the June 3 local elections, we must decisively judge the insurrection forces and eliminate even the last traces of insurrection.”
Jung cited stock market growth as one of the achievements of the Lee Jae-myung government. “The KOSPI, which was barely holding on at 2,500, has surpassed 5,000, broken through 6,000 and 7,000, and is now on the verge of 8,000,” he said. “The KOSPI’s market capitalization has risen from 13th in the world to 6th in the world.” He added, “Last year’s export volume also set a record high, achieving 700 billion dollars in exports as the sixth country in the world to do so. This year as well, despite the Iran-Middle East war, exports from May 1 to 10 rose 43.7% compared with the same period last year, and exports in January and February moved up from 7th in the world last year to 5th.”
Jung concluded, “I ask once again for the passionate interest and active participation of the people and our fellow party members for victory in the June 3 local elections. I will devote everything I have to the victory of the June 3 local elections and the success of the Lee Jae-myung government.”