Kim Eo-jun Pressures President's Approval Rating, Demands Jeong Cheong-rae's Factional Share; Busan Nomination Corruption Allegations Also Emerge

As the possibility of candidate Kim Min-seok winning the party leadership emerges, Kim Eo-jun expressed concern about Kim Min-seok pushing out Jeong Cheong-rae's close associates. This is interpreted as a de facto demand for recognition of Jeong Cheong-rae's factional share.

The speaker said, "Kim Min-seok expressed concern about operating the party by pushing out Jeong Cheong-rae's close associates, and this is concern in a good sense. To express this a bit more strongly, it's a demand for recognition of Jeong Cheong-rae's share."

The real major shareholders of Jeong Cheong-rae's supporters are said to be Kim Eo-jun and Yang Jeong-cheol, rather than Jeong Cheong-rae himself.

Kim Eo-jun mentioned the possibility of the president's approval rating falling below 30%, attempting to threaten that the approval rating would drop if Jeong Cheong-rae's supporters left. Among those who prefer Jeong Cheong-rae, 50.6% showed a positive evaluation, while 95.6% among those who prefer Kim Min-seok, indicating a complete divergence in support patterns between the two candidates' preferred groups.

The speaker pointed out, "Do they hold the approval ratings themselves? Let's take a look. Among those who prefer Jeong Cheong-rae, the positive evaluation is 50.6%. And among those who prefer Kim Min-seok, it's 95.6%. So, the support patterns completely diverge depending on the preferred group of the two candidates."

Looking at past presidential approval ratings, there are no cases of recovery after hitting the 30% range. In President Moon Jae-in's case, he recorded in the 30% range during the Cho Kuk scandal but recovered to the 40% range and retired. The 40% approval rating acts as a psychological defense line.

The speaker explained past cases, saying, "If I look at past presidential approval ratings, no president has recovered after hitting the 30s. President Moon Jae-in hit the 30s during the Cho Kuk scandal, then recovered to the 40s and retired between 4 and 5."

National Assembly member Jeong Cheong-rae's influence within the Democratic Party greatly expanded through the national convention. If party leader Kim Min-seok is elected, Jeong Cheong-rae is highly likely to become the most important core partner. It is analyzed that no current Democratic Party member has as much influence as Jeong Cheong-rae.

The speaker said, "If Kim Min-seok becomes the party leader, Jeong Cheong-rae, who would be a National Assembly member, could become the most important partner. Currently, no Democratic Party member has as much influence as Jeong Cheong-rae. He has gained influence through the national convention."

The demand for factional shares, such as guaranteeing positions or showing consideration in appointments for those on Jeong Cheong-rae's side, is criticized as typical old-school politics. It was argued that party appointments should be based on skill and ability, not factions.

The speaker criticized, "So, in other words, it seems they are demanding something like guaranteeing positions for those on Jeong Cheong-rae's side, consideration in appointments, and recognizing factional shares, but this is old-school politics."

President Lee Jae-myung should focus on the reforms he wants to pursue during his remaining term, without being swayed by approval ratings. The Democratic Party must strongly support this, and it was analyzed that if politics focused solely on approval ratings continues, he will inevitably end up as a failed president like Moon Jae-in.

The speaker emphasized, "President Lee Jae-myung must do what he wants during this period. He must implement reforms. And the Democratic Party must support that well; if they continue politics that are swayed by approval ratings, he will inevitably end up as a failed president like Moon Jae-in."

On August 12, on "News Factory," Kim Eo-jun asked National Assembly member Jeong Cheong-rae what his first task would be if elected party leader. Jeong Cheong-rae replied that the Democratic Party of August 17 and August 18 should be different, and that the party should clearly articulate what it intends to do and identify the people who will execute it.

National Assembly member Jeong Cheong-rae is planning seven standing and special tasks, mega-projects, youth engagement, and also mentioned preparations for next year's Seoul mayoral election and Gangneung by-election, as well as a plan for live broadcasting of party affairs. He said, "I believe the Democratic Party of August 17 and August 18 should be different. Clearly articulating what the party will do will be the first task, and revealing who will do it will be revealed on the first day."

Kim Eo-jun asked National Assembly member Jeong Cheong-rae if there was 'a place for him,' asking, "Is there a place for candidate Jeong here? Wouldn't candidate Jeong not be suitable for taking on any individual role?" News Tam-sa criticized this as an intention to secure factional interests by leveraging the departure of the core support base.

The speaker asked, "Is there a place for candidate Jeong there? Wouldn't candidate Jeong not be suitable for taking on any individual role?" News Tam-sa criticized this as an attempt to secure factional interests by leveraging the potential departure of core supporters.

President Lee Jae-myung is scheduled to host a dinner at the Blue House on Wednesday, August 19, inviting party leader Kim Min-seok, who was elected party leader in this national convention, as well as candidates Jeong Cheong-rae and Song Young-gil, who participated in the convention. News Tam-sa reported, "President Lee Jae-myung is scheduled to host a dinner at the Blue House on Wednesday the 19th, inviting party leader Kim Min-seok, who was elected party leader in this national convention, as well as candidates Jeong Cheong-rae and Song Young-gil, who participated in the convention."

There were reports that the nomination process in the Busan area during the June 3 local elections was very problematic. News Tam-sa stated, "This past June 3 local election, we diligently investigated the nomination problems in Honam, and because of that, we couldn't look into other regions, but the nomination problems in Busan are unbelievably dirty."

Real names such as Eum Su-jeon, Secretary-General, Seo Tae-kyung, former head of Sasang-gu Office, and Kim Du-yeong, Senior Vice Chairman, were mentioned, and it is known that related evidence and recordings exist.

A complaint has currently been filed with the police, and detailed information is expected to be released soon.

It was pointed out that many party chairpersons in various city and provincial party chapters often act as puppets without real authority. It was argued that the actual power is held by lower-level party officials who are disrupting the party.

News Tam-sa stated, "The party chairpersons in various city and provincial party chapters are all just puppets. The party officials beneath them hold all the real power and are disrupting everything," and mentioned that reorganization of party officials is necessary for party innovation.