Jeong Cheong-rae asks Song Young-gil about 'Policy Task No. 50' and backfires; on OhmyTV coverage interference, says "their own doing"

At the recent joint convention speech, Jeong Cheong-rae asked Song Young-gil whether he knew 'National Policy Task No. 50.' This appears to be an attempt to pay back Song for an embarrassment Jeong himself suffered when he failed to answer a question about National Policy Task No. 2. "Candidate Jeong Cheong-rae was humiliated because he couldn't answer properly about National Policy Task No. 2 last time. Today he's telling Song Young-gil to answer No. 50 to pay that back."

This style of questioning stood out against Jeong's past image. Compared with the sharp questions he once put to the People Power Party as chair of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, asking such childish questions in a party leadership race surprised many. "Is this really the 'legendary Judiciary Committee chair' Jeong Cheong-rae we knew? It's getting a bit bizarre and childish. When he was Judiciary Committee chair, his questions to the People Power Party were satisfying, even provocative. Seeing him ask such childish questions at a party leadership contest surprised me too."

2. Although the matter called for lowering his head and reflecting, he was criticized for putting Song a quiz-style question. "By asking that, he's reminding everyone that he served as ruling party leader for the past year without even knowing what the Lee Jae-myung government's National Policy Task No. 2 is. He says he doesn't want to just gloss over something he should be humbly reflecting on, and then asks Song a quiz-like question, 'What's this National Policy Task thing?'"

Criticism arose that the intent of the question was unclear and absurd. Song's expression at the time was also reported to be unpleasant. "Asking someone who couldn't answer what Article 1 of the Constitution is what Article 50 is, that's basically the same thing. Song Young-gil's expression didn't look good at that moment."

When asked about knowledge needed to exercise policy competence as the leader of the ruling party, Jeong appeared quite flustered and failed to answer properly. He reportedly struggled especially on the question about National Policy Task No. 2. "In the KBC debate, they asked very detailed policy questions, like on the three mega projects, to test policy insight and the knowledge needed for policy competence as ruling party leader. Jeong looked quite flustered and stumbled. That's when he gave up on National Policy Task No. 2."

Jeong showed quick mental recovery, dancing and cheering with supporters in Gwangyang. However, mentioning National Policy Task No. 50 at today's debate revealed that he still has not fully recovered from the trauma over the policy task question. "Seeing Jeong Cheong-rae in Gwangyang yesterday, he recovered quickly, dancing with supporters and cheering along. His mental resilience is excellent. But raising National Policy Task No. 50 at today's debate effectively shows he still hasn't gotten over the policy task trauma from yesterday. I think he needs some professional counseling."

Jeong showed an attitude of provoking his opponents with his answers. When an OhmyTV reporter asked about interference with candidate Choi Min-hee's coverage, he paused briefly and then said, "I think it's OhmyTV's own doing," which sparked controversy. The remark escalated into a question of his attitude toward the press. "That same provoking style of answering came out again in the question about interference with Choi Min-hee's coverage. When an OhmyTV reporter asked what he thought about the interference, he paused and then gave a rather absurd answer: 'I think it's OhmyTV's own doing.'"

The remark is read as clarifying his stance toward that specific newspaper. "At the coverage scene, I answered that I wouldn't do an interview even if Chosun Ilbo asked me."

Holding personal convictions about Chosun Ilbo may be acceptable, but expressing them publicly is a different matter, critics said. Dragging Chosun Ilbo into a question about OhmyTV was also seen as inappropriate. "Jeong is still the ruling party leader, and he's seeking re-election, yet he seems unaware of his responsibility in that position. Having strong convictions about Chosun Ilbo is one thing, but expressing them publicly is another. And bringing up Chosun Ilbo out of nowhere in response to a question about OhmyTV is odd too."

Concern was raised that this approach could become a decisive obstacle to the Democratic Party's expansion toward the center. "He still can't distinguish between his role as party leader and his role as a party leader. And that kind of attitude will become a decisive obstacle to the Democratic Party expanding toward the center."

Analysts, however, say they may act as an unfavorable factor for moderates, leaving them with no positive feeling toward the Democratic Party. "To supporters, it's a real refreshing remark, and hardliners may shout 'That's Jeong!' with a thumbs-up. But from the standpoint of moderates, they simply don't feel any affection for the Democratic Party."

Analysts said such an approach could create a situation the People Power Party would most welcome. Some People Power Party supporters reportedly prefer Jeong as the Democratic Party's next leader. "From that perspective, if the Democratic Party goes down this path, the force that would be happiest is the People Power Party. Isn't it the case that People Power Party supporters most prefer Jeong Cheong-rae as the next Democratic Party leader?"

Shamanistic traditions hold that chili peppers drive away spirits, and some see this as a ritual act seeking help from the spirits of the dead. Reactions to the performance included calling it "eerie." "Right now, two red chilies stuck upright are drawing various interpretations. In shamanistic terms, chilies are said to drive away spirits, and when people place them there and say 'Spirits, please help us,' it strikes people as eerie."

Some argue that, alongside the cult controversy, such an act cannot simply be laughed off. "Candidate Jeong Cheong-rae is already embroiled in controversy over alleged cult-related religious ties. Given that, performing such a childish stunt at the May 18 memorial makes the suspicions harder to laugh off."

The red-chili performance was reportedly carried out by Park Chan-geun, a high school classmate of Jeong Cheong-rae. Park explained that the performance was not about ritual meaning but symbolized candidate number 2 by sticking two chilies in place. Despite this explanation, the controversy continues, and some say the actions of a high school classmate did Jeong no favors. "Of course, it wasn't Jeong's side who did it, but Park Chan-geun. Is he a Bomun High School classmate of Candidate Jeong? Yes, he is. What's being said is that it wasn't about ritual meaning but symbolized candidate number 2, so he stuck two chilies in there. In any case, a high school classmate doesn't seem to have helped at all. It only stirs up more controversy."