"I'll end your political career if you defy me" — Controversy over Acting Head Choi Seong-won's remarks, Candidate Jeong Cheong-rae 'consistently unaware'

Choi Seong-won, Acting Head of the Yeoju-Yangpyeong Regional Committee, expressed private and political grievances, putting pressure on County Councilor Yeo Hyeon-jeong. Acting Head Choi claimed he would appoint the secretary-general by his own decision and threatened to end Councilor Yeo's political career if she opposed him.

Acting Head Choi Seong-won directly stated, “So, if you threaten me, I’ll like you even more. I'll like it. … Why would I bother, I could end Yeo Hyeon-jeong's political career. … If you defy me, do you think I would forgive that?”

The panelists concluded that Acting Head Choi Seong-won's remarks clearly constituted grounds for disciplinary action. The host emphasized the seriousness of the remarks, saying, "Just those remarks alone, I think, are definitely grounds for discipline."

They criticized the central party for ignoring such issues, arguing that it condones arbitrary operations within the region, and insisted on prompt action.

The host pointed out the operational status of the Democratic Party in the Yeoju-Yangpyeong area, stating, "Indeed, the place that most explicitly reveals the naked truth is Yeoju-Yangpyeong with Acting Head Choi Seong-won." It was noted that the opinions of critical figures within the region, such as County Councilor Yeo Hyeon-jeong, were being blocked at the central party level.

Furthermore, suspicions were raised that a hidden force supportive of Acting Head Choi exists within the regional organization, leading to a perception that regional issues cannot be resolved without intervention from the central party.

The analysis suggested that Acting Head Choi Seong-won's remark, "I could end Yeo Hyeon-jeong's political career," implies he relies on backing from within the central party, not his own power. The host expressed this suspicion, saying, "When he says 'I could end Yeo Hyeon-jeong's political career,' it means he has people with that kind of power behind him."

They emphasized that replacing Acting Head Choi Seong-won is urgent to normalize the regional organization, and active intervention at the central party level is necessary.

Criticism has been raised that the Democratic Party's 'one team,' 'one voice' motto is being exploited to suppress dissenting opinions within the party. The host said, "I'm tired of the 'one team' talk. So tired. Our candidate Jeong Cheong-rae's 'Party-Government-Cheong one team, one voice'," pointing out that such slogans hinder genuine communication and discussion.

This phenomenon is particularly linked to the party culture since the Jeong Cheong-rae era and is a concern as it undermines intra-party democracy.

The host questioned the background of reporter Kim Hyeon-sul writing an article that defended Acting Head Choi Seong-won. Mentioning the tendency to believe that those criticizing Acting Head Choi are on Councilor Yeo Hyeon-jeong's side, the host conveyed the sentiment that for the Democratic Party to do well, Acting Head Choi needs to neutrally place the entire matter within the system.

The possibility that criticism of Councilor Yeo Hyeon-jeong was conveyed through central party connections was also raised, leading to criticism that local media might be acting as spokespersons for specific factions.

The host revealed that multiple attempts to contact Jeong Cheong-rae, then leader of the Democratic Party, regarding the Yeoju-Yangpyeong regional issues received no response. "It's not that I didn't contact Jeong Cheong-rae, the then-leader of the Democratic Party, when members were actively voicing their concerns about these issues. I even sent Telegram messages, but he never read them," the host stated.

This was highlighted as an example of a lack of communication within the party and the central party's indifference to regional issues.

Reporter Kwon Ji-won questioned candidate Jeong Cheong-rae about the election defeat in the Yeoju-Yangpyeong region, the sole appointment of regional committee chairperson Choi Seon, and the impropriety of the Yoon Yong-jo candidate nomination process. Specifically, the reporter asked, "The Democratic Party caused a lot of controversy by nominating Yoon Yong-jo in Yeoju-Yangpyeong. Are you aware of such issues, and if so, why was it carried out as it was?" aiming to confirm if there was a central party directive for nominating candidates from the People Power Party.

These questions represented the voices demanding transparent nomination processes and seeking to address the dissatisfaction of local party members.

Regarding the nomination issue, candidate Jeong Cheong-rae stated, "I am not well aware of what you just mentioned, and as for regional on-site issues, I don't know, the provincial party handles it," showing a response of 'not being well aware.' He drew a line, saying regional on-site issues are for the provincial party to handle.

He repeatedly answered 'not well aware' regarding the nomination guidelines for candidates from the People Power Party, avoiding a clear explanation for the questions.

It was mentioned that regional party members opposing the Choi Seong-won acting leadership held a protest in front of the Democratic Party headquarters and a press conference. The host questioned, "And then there were people who went to the party headquarters to appeal, holding a press conference saying Choi Seong-won must go. How could you not know?" pointing out that candidate Jeong Cheong-rae could not have been unaware of such opposing public opinion.

This led to criticism that the central party ignored clear opposing public opinion, even when party members directly appealed to them.

Reporter Kwon Ji-won revealed that as she continued to ask questions, party officials began to follow her as if assigned to a specific mark. She explained, "When I tried to ask questions, I started to face interference. It always happens that when I ask such questions, people like my personal mark follow me."

Interference came in the form of warnings not to monopolize valuable time, which was criticized as an act hindering the free journalistic activities of the press.

As candidate Jeong Cheong-rae attempted to leave, reporter Kwon Ji-won re-questioned him about his aspirations for re-election as party leader and the issue of regional committee chairperson appointments. She directly criticized him, saying, "In the case of Yeoju-Yangpyeong, a sole appointment was made this time. Could you perhaps comment on this? Isn't it irresponsible for you to leave with this issue unresolved?"

This revealed the reporter's strong dissatisfaction with the candidate's attempt to evade responsibility for the questions and leave.

Candidate Jeong Cheong-rae reacted sharply to reporter Kwon Ji-won's accusation of "irresponsibility." He said, "You should watch your words. What should I watch?" warning the reporter to be careful with her remarks before leaving.

This reaction was criticized as an attitude that evades responsibility for the controversy and attempts to suppress the questioner.

After accompanying them to the front of the lawmaker's office and having a conversation, a commotion occurred during the process of returning the entry pass. The host explained the situation, saying, "It seems a complaint came from the lawmaker's office. So, the reporter was told to take the elevator and went up, but if you receive an entry pass with that ID card, you can only be on the first floor. To go upstairs, you need a separate entry pass for that floor, and they said the reporter went up without it."

The reporter's resident registration card was withheld for going up without the appropriate floor's entry pass, which was criticized as another pressure tactic infringing on the freedom of journalistic activity.