Rep. Jung Chung-rae claimed Monday that rivals are coordinating against him in the Democratic Party leadership race. He described the situation as a three-against-one gang assault during his ongoing campaign. Consequently, Jung appealed directly to party members for continued support amid this alleged coordination.
Indeed, Jung wrote on Facebook suggesting his opponents had effectively joined forces against his candidacy. He expressed hope for an eventual one-on-one contest rather than facing multiple rivals simultaneously. “I hope every fight is one-for-one as well,” Jung stated in his message. Furthermore, he vowed to protect a Democratic Party that stays true to its core values. He then asked party members directly to protect him throughout this leadership race.
Currently, Jung faces three competitors ahead of the party’s national convention scheduled for August 17. These include former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Rep. Song Young-gil and Rep. Ko Min-jung. Notably, Jung has previously clashed with the party’s mainstream faction on various occasions. Therefore, his latest comments reflect ongoing tension between himself and establishment-aligned figures within the party.
Moreover, this appeal came shortly after Jung disclosed a significant surge in campaign donations. He revealed that 380 million won arrived overnight, followed by another 60 million won Sunday. In total, Jung reported receiving 440 million won in contributions from grateful supporters. He described feeling deeply moved and even brought to tears by this outpouring.
Additionally, Jung’s repeated emphasis on one-on-one competition follows recent changes to internal party voting rules. In February, the Democratic Party adopted a one member, one vote system for leadership elections. This change granted dues-paying members voting power equal to that of convention delegates. Political observers suggest this shift could favor Jung, who holds strong support among such members.
Ultimately, this leadership race highlights deepening divisions within Korea’s ruling party ahead of August’s convention. Going forward, all four candidates will likely intensify their campaigns as the vote approaches.
