Jeong Cheongrae and Jokook Clash Over 'Political Reform'... "Regretful About Innovation Party's Negative Interview"

Jeong Cheongrae: "It Appears as If I Have No Will for Political Reform"
"I Will Ensure Political Reform Is Discussed in the Special Committee"

Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Jokook, leader of the Jokook Innovation Party, engaged in a tense exchange over political reform during their meeting.

Jokook, leader of the Jokook Innovation Party (right), is visiting Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, at the National Assembly on November 26, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

On November 26, at the Democratic Party’s leader’s office in the National Assembly in Yeouido, Jeong stated to Jokook, "No one from the Jokook Innovation Party has ever called me or met with me to discuss political reform, yet there was an Innovation Party lawmaker who gave a negative interview about me. I find that very regrettable."

Previously, during the June 3 presidential election, the Democratic Party held a roundtable with the four opposition parties (Jokook Innovation Party, Progressive Party, Basic Income Party, Social Democratic Party) and signed an agreement pledging political reform, including the easing of requirements for negotiating blocs and the introduction of a runoff voting system, immediately after the election.

Jeong further stated, "If you wanted to know my opinion, you could have simply called me, but instead, you made it appear through the media as if I, Jeong Cheongrae of the Democratic Party, have no intention of political reform. I find this extremely regrettable and hope that such things do not happen again."

He added, "Also, the promise of political reform was made not during my tenure, but now I am the party leader. Regarding the issues you raised, I believe that once the Special Committee on Political Reform is formed, we can have sufficient discussions and reach a possible consensus."

He continued, "In the closed supreme council meeting, the party leadership also reported on the Special Committee on Political Reform. I asked them to do their best to ensure that the committee can be activated, including matters such as local party chapters and political reform."

Before Jeong’s opening remarks, Jokook said, "During the last presidential election, the five democratic reform parties joined hands and adopted the declaration of the political reform roundtable, but progress has stalled. This is not a matter of who gains or loses. The entire political community must work together to resolve it."

Jokook emphasized, "If political reform is achieved, it will benefit all citizens, and based on this, we can defeat the forces of insurrection and the far-right. Woo Sangho, Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs, who visited our party yesterday, also said that President Lee Jaemyung supports discussions on political reform." He added, "I know you are busy, but I hope that at an appropriate time, you, Representative Jeong, will personally take the wheel in leading political reform." After the opening remarks, the meeting between the two leaders continued behind closed doors.

Park Byeongeon, spokesperson for the Jokook Innovation Party, met with reporters after the meeting and said, "We very much welcome Representative Jeong’s statement that the issue will be discussed in the Special Committee on Political Reform. However, from our party’s perspective, it is a bit disappointing that he spoke as if the matter would be re-discussed in the committee, rather than reaffirming and recalling the promises made before the presidential election."

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