"Did you smile after the president's arrest motion was passed?".. In response to the Wangsubak controversy, Jeong Cheong-rae explains "I am filled with loyalty."

[Financial News] Jeong Cheong-rae, a member of the National Assembly running for the next Democratic Party leader election, explained the scene where he was criticized as 'Wangsubak' by some strong supporters.

According to political circles on the 22nd, a video of Representative Jeong's remarks in 2018 was shared in an online community of Democratic Party supporters, leading to the 'Wangsubak' controversy. In the video, Representative Jeong said of President Lee Jae-myung, who was then the governor of Gyeonggi Province, "Whenever Governor Lee Jae-myung speaks, there is always a disturbance," and "I just don't like Governor Lee."

Also, photos criticizing Representative Jeong's actions when President Lee went on a hunger strike two years ago, and a photo of him laughing with Jeon Hae-cheol, a well-known pro-Moon Jae-in (pro-Moon) faction lawmaker, were posted.

Some strong supporters shared these photos, criticizing them as "the reality of Representative Jeong" and "evidence that Representative Jeong is a 'subak'."

In response, Representative Jeong shared a scene on his SNS on the 22nd from his appearance on the YouTube channel 'Lee Dong-hyung TV' Iijeie, saying, "This is the scene where I was criticized as 'Wangsubak' by some strong supporters," and "It's so unfair," he said.

He continued, "(On September 21, 2023) there is a photo of me laughing with Representative Jeon Hae-cheol after the arrest motion for President Lee Jae-myung was passed. They said, 'Can Jeong Cheong-rae do this?' It seems to be a scene where I smiled while asking for help as I entered the general assembly room," he explained.

Representative Jeong added, "At that time, I was thinking about how to prevent the motion from passing, so I met with former Representative Jeon, asking for help, and we had meals and drinks together."

He emphasized again, "I am filled with loyalty to President Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party, both outwardly and inwardly."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party leader election is likely to be a two-way contest between Representative Jeong and Representative Park Chan-dae (three-term, Incheon Yeonsu-gu Gap). Following Representative Jeong's announcement of his candidacy on the 15th, Representative Park is also expected to announce his candidacy on the 23rd.

Both are representative pro-Lee Jae-myung figures who worked with President Lee during his time as party leader. The reflection ratio of the party leader election delegates is 15% for delegates, 55% for rights party members, and 30% for the general public, and it will be held on August 2.

moon@fnnews.com Moon Young-jin Reporter