Jo Eung-cheon "Myeong-Nak Meeting, Nothing to Expect... Different Thoughts"

"If Lee Jae-myung Asks for Help, Lee Nak-yeon Will Demand Proper Action"
"Cho Kuk's Son Returns Master's Degree Due to Lawsuit"

Former Democratic Party leaders Lee Nak-yeon, who returned after a year of studying in the United States, and Lee Jae-myung have agreed to hold a private dinner meeting on the 11th. Meanwhile, Cho Eung-cheon, a non-Lee faction member of the Democratic Party, predicted, "There is nothing to expect in terms of content."

On the 11th, Cho said on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' "I think their thoughts might be a little different right now."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Former leader Lee returned at the end of last month, paid respects at the graves of former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, and met with former President Moon Jae-in, but this will be his first meeting with Lee Jae-myung.

Cho speculated on the reason for their meeting, saying, "For Lee Jae-myung, it might be necessary to have an image of being together with former leader Lee, like during the last presidential election. And since it has been about half a month since former leader Lee returned, but they still haven't met and keep postponing, causing some talk that it feels like they are just skirting around each other, that might be a psychological burden."

He expressed skepticism about the private nature of the dinner, saying, "The reason the dinner is held privately is because the 'preliminary coordination' hasn't been done yet. Rather than a gap in emotions, it's because their diagnosis and perception of our party's current situation are completely different from the start. So if Lee Jae-myung asks for help, former leader Lee might respond with something like, 'Do it properly.' It might come out like that inside."

Regarding whether former leader Lee will become a unifying figure encompassing the non-Lee faction if he resumes political activities, Cho said, "It's hard to predict how he will engage in politics, but given the current situation, it seems that the conditions are not quite right for him to become a unifying figure yet. If I have a wish, it would be better for him, as an elder of our party, not to get involved in every current issue but occasionally give weighty advice and speak words that resonate."

Cho also attracted attention by predicting that former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae would form a new party with former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk. He said, "I never directly said that they would form a new party, but I did say that it seems like she will work with former Minister Cho Kuk. She wants to clear the stigma of being called the 'mother of conservatism' and the main contributor to President Yoon Seok-youl's rise, and restore her honor and engage in politics."

When asked by the host whether former Minister Cho Kuk's son returning his master's degree was in preparation for running in the general election, Cho analyzed, "Cho Min has been very active and seemed unrepentant, and faced a situation where he might be indicted, so he gave up lawsuits against Korea University and Pusan National University Medical School. If Cho Min is indicted, Cho Kwon might also face an uncertain situation. The main purpose seems to be the lawsuit, and the idea that it would help his father's candidacy seems more secondary."

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