Park Ji-won: "Lee Jae-myung, who has no relation, should fight confidently"

Park Ji-won Returns After 6 Years, Volunteering as Lee Jae-myung's 'Bodyguard'
Will Assemblyman Min Hyung-bae Also Rejoin? Additional Reentries Draw Attention in Democratic Party

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Former Presidential Secretary Park Ji-won, who successfully returned to the Democratic Party of Korea after 6 years, raised his voice that the Democratic Party should respond head-on to the 'judicial risk' surrounding Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung. Independent lawmaker Min Hyung-bae also hinted at rejoining the party, saying his reason for leaving was a "public issue" of the Democratic Party, signaling a 'rush of reentries' to continue.

On the 21st, former Secretary Park appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and said, "Did 26 billion won (hidden) by Kim Man-bae, an enormous amount of money, come out of Leader Lee's house?" He raised his voice, saying, "If there is no relation, why is it constantly being connected to Leader Lee in reports? We must fight this confidently." He criticized the Democratic Party for responding passively to Leader Lee's judicial risk.

He claimed, "What does Kim Man-bae's extreme choice have to do with the Democratic Party or Lee Jae-myung?" Regarding the revelations by lawyer Nam Wook and former Seongnam Urban Development Corporation Planning Director Yoo Dong-gyu, he dismissed them, saying, "After being in prison for a year, what wouldn't they say to get out?" He also emphasized, "The burden of proof of guilt lies with the prosecution. It is not Leader Lee or the Democratic Party who must prove innocence."

Former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won is answering reporters' questions as he appears at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on the 14th. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

Former Secretary Park's return, six years after leaving during the 2016 People's Party split, was entirely the result of Leader Lee's decision. When the party failed to reach consensus on his return, Leader Lee took the lead. Jeong Cheong-rae, a Democratic Party Supreme Council member who initially opposed Park's return but later changed his stance, left a parting remark, saying, "I only hope it does not become a disaster for the future of the Democratic Party."

This reentry is evaluated as Leader Lee needing the experienced former Secretary Park to respond to his judicial risks. Park himself hinted at supporting Leader Lee's defense, saying, "We will unite around Leader Lee to fight against opposition party oppression, placing even a single brick, and I will contribute the wisdom and experience I have gained to the party to achieve victory in the general election, presidential election, and regime change."

Former Minister of Unification Jeong Dong-young, who also left and rejoined the party at the end of last year, appeared on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs' on the same day and said, "It is not Leader Lee's judicial risk but the prosecution's risk," adding, "Even after nearly two years of investigation, the prosecution has not been able to confirm any definite charges," echoing former Secretary Park's sentiments. Senior defectors seem to be actively voicing support to defend Leader Lee's judicial risks.

Meanwhile, following former Secretary Park, independent lawmaker Min Hyung-bae, who was involved in controversy over a 'trick resignation' during the April legislative process of 'Complete Removal of Prosecution's Investigation Rights (Geomsu Wanbak),' also hinted at rejoining, signaling a continued 'rush of reentries' into the Democratic Party.

In KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs,' Min said, "As you well know, I left because of issues related to the normalization of the prosecution or prosecution reform, including the reduction of prosecution's investigative rights," adding, "While it was also a personal choice, there was a political judgment made by both the Democratic Party and me, and this was a public issue. I must rejoin."

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