Jeong Cheong-rae: "Gominjeong spoke her mind... Seoul Mayor, not a clearance sale for the general election"

Gominjung "Oh Se-hoon, Conditional Politics Without Residents' Choice"
O Shin-hwan "This Is the First Time I've Seen Such Low-Quality Politics"

Jeong Cheong-rae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Education Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly on December 4 last year. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Jeong Cheong-rae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, defended lawmaker Go Min-jung, who criticized former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon’s actions, saying, "Go Min-jung spoke her mind."

On the 24th, Jeong posted on his Facebook, "Aren't both of the leading candidates from the People Power Party people who were judged and defeated in the general election?" and pointed out, "The Seoul mayor position is not a 'clearance sale for general election losers.'"

He continued, "It is natural for first-term lawmakers to feel unfamiliar and strange when those who should reflect and restrain themselves after losing the general election immediately rush to run for Seoul mayor."

He added, "Isn't the Gwangjin (Eul) constituency a one-time stopover that caters to Oh Se-hoon’s ambitions?" and criticized, "I was cut off in the 20th general election and took it as an opportunity to reflect and introspect. Abandoning one’s constituency like a used item and pursuing greater ambitions and higher positions just because of a defeat in the general election is not such a beautiful principle."

Finally, he emphasized, "Go Min-jung did not say anything untrue, and from her perspective, I think she spoke very appropriately. We must live speaking our minds."

Ko Min-jung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is explaining a bill proposal at the National Assembly plenary session on the 1st of last month. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Earlier, on the 22nd, lawmaker Go Min-jung criticized former Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who declared his candidacy for the April 7 by-election for Seoul mayor, through her Facebook, saying, "It is regrettable and disappointing to see him still engaging in conditional politics despite not being chosen by the people who wanted free school meals, the residents of Jongno District, and the residents of Gwangjin (Eul)."

Go said, "(Former Mayor Oh) set a 'conditional resignation from the Seoul mayor position' related to the Seoul free school meals referendum. Recently, former leader Ahn Cheol-soo said he would run for Seoul mayor if he did not join the People Power Party, throwing a 'conditional candidacy'." She questioned, "Can’t they just once state an unconditional position?"

In response, former People Power Party lawmaker Oh Shin-hwan issued a statement on the 24th, criticizing Go Min-jung, saying, "In my 15 years in politics, I have never seen such a low-quality politician who repeatedly utters such contemptuous remarks toward a rival candidate in a general election." He added, "It has been a virtue of our politics to offer congratulations and support with joy when a competitor is promoted or takes on a new challenge."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.