Jung Chung-rae, a candidate for Democratic Party of Korea leader, delivers his policy speech at the party's third national convention at the Daejeon Convention Center on Monday. [POOL via Yonhap]
Jung Chung-rae, a candidate for Democratic Party of Korea leader, delivers his policy speech at the party's third national convention at the Daejeon Convention Center on Monday. [POOL via Yonhap]

Jung Chung-rae, the outgoing leader of the Democratic Party of Korea whose bid for a second term was defeated at the party's Aug. 17 national convention, appealed to his supporters Tuesday not to leave the party.

"Although I lost, the burning passion and resolve of my comrades who stand for reform have won," Jung wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. "Please do not leave the party — stay with Jung Chung-rae."

The appeal came as some of his more hard-line supporters began signaling they might quit the party following the convention defeat, and appeared aimed at tamping down internal discord.

Jung said the election of Supreme Council members Choi Min-hee, Lee Sung-yoon and Han Min-su — all considered allies of his — to the new party leadership was "a precious achievement you have made."

He then said he would "quietly work from my position toward reform and the four-way integration," signaling his acceptance of the convention result while vowing to continue championing member sovereignty and a reform agenda.

Jung had also stressed the reform agenda immediately after the convention. Speaking to reporters after the vote, he said the party must "march forward holding the banner of reform even higher" and called on supporters to "meet again in a deeper, wider sea of democracy."

On Monday, he had already urged supporters on Facebook not to quit. "Should we leave the house that belongs to us?" he wrote, adding that the party must "raise even higher the banner of a party where members hold sovereignty."


sjy@heraldcorp.com