Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok (right) and lawmaker Jung Chung-rae attend a plenary session of the National Assembly on Friday. [Yonhap]
Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok (right) and lawmaker Jung Chung-rae attend a plenary session of the National Assembly on Friday. [Yonhap]

Woo Won-shik, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker who served as speaker of the National Assembly during the first half of the 22nd Assembly, said Wednesday that party leader Kim Min-seok and former floor leader Jung Chung-rae must sit down together to resolve the ongoing intraparty dispute over allegations of mass membership by Shincheonji followers.

Speaking on YTN Radio's "Jang Seong-cheol's News Myeongdang," Woo said the ruling party's internal bickering was undermining public trust. "A democracy is only solid when it is proven through the lives of the people, yet the ruling party, which should be focused on exactly that, is consumed by internal conflict and constant fighting — how can it expect to earn the public's trust?" he said. "This fighting has to stop. Frankly, it is painful to watch."

Woo also warned that the stakes could not be higher. "Under the Yoon Suk Yeol government, the country went through an insurrection in the form of emergency martial law, and the people, unable to endure it any longer, carried out an impeachment and built a new government," he said. "If that government fails because of intraparty conflict, the people will never forgive it."

He said the party leader had already taken a significant step by apologizing and stating there was no basis for the Shincheonji allegations. "That should have been a major turning point, but it has not become one, as various procedural disputes have continued since then," Woo said.

He called on both figures to act. "The two of them must resolve this. They need to meet and work it out," he said, adding that Kim should take a more proactive and inclusive approach while Jung, as floor leader, should be willing to extend a hand in the broader interest of the party.

Jung pushed back sharply the same day, posting on Facebook: "Is this a both-sides argument? Are you saying the perpetrator and the victim should each shoulder 50 percent of the blame? Is this a call to mix injustice with justice?"


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