Kim Yong slams Jung Chung-rae's 'administrations are short-lived' remark as gaffe worthy of opposition

Kim Yong, former vice chairman of the Democratic Research Institute and a close ally of President Lee Jae Myung, sharply criticized Democratic Party of Korea leader Jung Chung-rae on Thursday over his remark that "the people are eternal and administrations are short-lived," calling it an inappropriate gaffe that should have come from the opposition, not the ruling party.

Speaking on CBS Radio's "Park Sung-tae's News Show" Thursday morning, Kim said the phrase "administrations are short-lived" was the kind of language one would expect from the opposition. "Looking at that expression alone, I thought it was the sort of routine political rhetoric that People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok would use — and now it has come from our own party leader, drawing a great deal of criticism," he said. "I think it was a truly remarkable gaffe."

Jung had made the comment at a Supreme Council meeting Wednesday, saying, "Public sentiment is the will of heaven. No administration can overcome the people. The people are eternal and administrations are short-lived."

Kim also rebuffed the party leadership's claim of a sweeping victory in the June 3 local elections. Pointing to the results for basic-level municipal mayors — where the Democratic Party won 115 seats against the People Power Party's 95 — he said the narrow margin told a different story. "It is no exaggeration to say this was nearly a total defeat. The biggest cause was a lack of strategy," he said.

On Jung's bid to seek a second term as party leader, Kim said preconditions were essential. "Running is entirely possible," he said, "but shouldn't there first be steps taken to win back the public's trust?" When asked whether Jung should resign, Kim said resignation was not the main issue. "What must come first is a truly sincere apology," he said. Kim added that he had not yet made a final decision on whether to run for a Supreme Council seat himself, but said he intended to decide soon.