Jung Kyujae: "If Cheongrae Jeong Is a Terrorist, Then Munsu Kim Is a Violent Agitator"

"Criticism for Presenting a 36-Year-Old Incident as Current"
"Prediction: People Power Party Could Lose Even in Daegu and Busan in Local Elections"

As Munsu Kim, a candidate for the People Power Party leadership, continues to make extreme remarks targeting the ruling party ahead of the party convention, Jung Kyujae, former editorial writer of Korea Economic Daily, has come forward to criticize Kim. Jung is considered a prominent conservative commentator. On August 4, Jung wrote on social media, "The attempted bombing of the U.S. Embassy by Cheongrae Jeong was an incident from 36 years ago, but Munsu Kim is describing it as if it is happening now."

Munsu Kim, People Power Party presidential candidate. Photo by Dongju Yoon

Earlier that day, Kim attended a debate at the National Assembly and referred to Representative Jeong, saying, "He is a far-left terrorist who climbed over the wall of the (U.S.) ambassador's residence, threw a tear gas canister, and tried to set fire by spraying thinner." Kim continued, "This person says, 'I won't shake hands unless the People Power Party apologizes for being a party of insurrection,' but I will never shake hands with a far-left terrorist under any circumstances." Kim's claim was based on Jeong's record of occupying the U.S. ambassador's residence as a university student in 1989, labeling him a "far-left terrorist."

However, Jung dismissed the incident as an issue from more than 30 years ago and countered, "If that's the case, then Munsu Kim is now a violent agitator dreaming of a workers' social revolution." Jung pointed out that Kim, who once led labor movements through undercover employment, could be criticized by the same logic. Jung added, "Cheongrae Jeong is a hardliner, but if his boastful verbosity, passionate speeches, and mischievous wordplay are considered terrorism, then kids would find it laughable."

Jung Kyujae, former editorial writer of Korea Economic Daily. Asia Economy

Jung also commented, "It is truly astonishing that someone who lost the election is, less than two months later, making remarks inciting a bloody struggle and refusing to accept the election outcome." He questioned, "Isn't the People Power Party now standing closer than ever to the very coup regime, unconstitutional party, violent party, and power-hungry party that Munsu Kim once so desperately tried to dismantle?" In particular, Jung criticized Kim for referring to President Lee Jaemyung as a "criminal," calling it "an extremely discourteous and unreasonable expression."

Jung argued, "If the party only shouts for bloody struggle, unilaterally labels the Democratic Party as a terrorist organization, and tries to create a dramatic image of fighting against such a party, then in the next local elections, even Busan and Daegu could be handed over to the Democratic Party, and the party will be reduced to a name written on a piece of paper fluttering in the air." He added, "Watching the actions of people like Munsu Kim, I sometimes feel a surge of anger thinking, 'Such a party should just be abolished altogether.' Isn't that what Cheongrae Jeong is saying now?"

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