Kang Deuk-gu says he will not seek re-election to Supreme Council, citing local election results; Moon Jeong-bok insists Jung is the Democratic Party's captain; Song Young-gil said to have pitched a three-way runoff deal with Kim Min-seok at presidential dinner
The Democratic Party of Korea is expected to shift into full national convention mode following party leader Jung Chung-rae's resignation Wednesday, with the contest for party leadership already heating up as pro-Lee Jae Myung and pro-Jung factions clash openly.
Supreme Council member Kang Deuk-gu said at a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on Wednesday that he would not seek a seat on the next Supreme Council, citing responsibility for the local election results. "The Democratic Party is in the same boat as the Lee Jae Myung government," he said. "A ship cannot have two captains."
He then took a direct swipe at Jung, saying the ruling party leadership "should not pursue politics that competes with the president, but politics that succeeds together with the president."
Kang stressed that the new leadership to be elected at the upcoming national convention must work in close step with the Lee Jae Myung government, guided by the will of the public and party members, with greater humility and competence. "This is the spirit of the times, the demand of the times, and the urgent voice of the people and party members," he added.
Pro-Jung council member Moon Jeong-bok fired back, saying, "President Lee Jae Myung is the captain of the ship called the Republic of Korea, and the captain of our Democratic Party ship is party leader Jung."
Meanwhile, lawmaker Song Young-gil, considered a likely contender in the national convention, is said to have told President Lee at a recent dinner that he planned to enter the race as part of a three-way contest and then consolidate support with Prime Minister Kim Min-seok in a runoff, producing a result where votes would converge in the final round.
Assembly member Park Ji-won said on CBS's "Park Seong-tae's News Show" on Wednesday that he had heard this account from Song in a phone call the previous day.
Kim plans to return to the National Assembly as soon as the confirmation hearing process for prime minister-designate Han Seong-suk is completed, with hearings scheduled for Thursday and Friday.
Song, who departed for the United States on Tuesday, is expected to announce his position on entering the national convention race after returning home.
sunpine@heraldcorp.com
