The First Step in Anti-Lee Jae-myung Faction Unity... Jeong Se-gyun and Lee Kwang-jae Unite Behind Jeong Se-gyun

Jeong "Decided to unite for sure victory in regime re-creation"
Lee "Best to continue reforms amid stability, will help fully"
Number of primary candidates reduced to 8

Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and Congressman Lee Kwang-jae, candidates in the Democratic Party presidential primary, are greeting each other after concluding a press conference on their unification agreement at the National Assembly on the 5th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] Among the nine Democratic Party presidential candidates, former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun and Congressman Lee Kwang-jae announced on the 5th that they would unify their candidacies under former Prime Minister Chung. With the possibility of further unifications among the remaining candidates still open, attention is rising as to whether this will mark the starting point for the formation of a ‘non-Lee Jae-myung’ front.

Former Prime Minister Chung held a press conference at the National Assembly that morning and stated, "We have decided to unite our strength for the Democratic Party’s sure victory in regaining power," emphasizing, "Today’s winning coalition is an innovative alliance to inherit the spirit of Roh Moo-hyun and the Moon Jae-in administration, establish the 4th Democratic government, and promote the future economy of the Republic of Korea." Congressman Lee also said, "Reform must continue steadily for Korea to move toward the future with hope. I will do my best to help." The two did not disclose specific conditions or methods for the unification.

With the unification of Chung Sye-kyun and Lee Kwang-jae, the Democratic Party’s preliminary primary candidate pool has been narrowed down to eight. The Democratic Party will select six candidates for the main election through a preliminary primary cutoff on the 11th. The public opinion survey for this begins on the 9th, and the possibility of unification among other candidates remains open around this time. Since Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung is leading by a large margin in support ratings, the need for minor candidates to unite is high.

In particular, the ‘pro-Roh (pro-Roh Moo-hyun)’ spirit emphasized by former Prime Minister Chung and Congressman Lee is also a point of connection with preliminary primary candidate Congressman Kim Doo-kwan. Only two candidates, former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae and Congressman Park Yong-jin, have stated that ‘there will be no unification,’ making it highly likely that a ‘pan-pro-Moon (pro-Moon Jae-in)’ coalition will begin.

Ultimately, a final unification with former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yon, who can secure meaningful support to oppose Governor Lee, can also be anticipated. Former Prime Minister Chung and former leader Lee met at a restaurant in Yeouido on the 3rd and announced a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in regaining power. Following Governor Lee, former leader Lee, who is second in support ratings and declared his presidential candidacy on the 5th, appeared on the radio that morning and tightened his criticism of Governor Lee’s controversial ‘U.S. occupying forces’ remark, saying, "Leaders always need to consider how their words will be received," and "It is true that many party lawmakers are worried," intensifying the attack on Governor Lee.

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