Kang Jun-hyun urges patience on Jung Chung-rae's future amid calls for resignation

By Joo So-hyun, The Herald Business

Kang Jun-hyun, chief spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Korea, said Friday that party members should wait for Democratic Party Chairman Jung Chung-rae to fully sort out and express his position, amid mounting pressure for his resignation.

Speaking at a press briefing at the National Assembly that day, Kang said the party had "listened to a wide range of views within the party regarding Chairman Jung's future and is carefully deliberating."

He added that the Democratic Party must unite firmly around President Lee Jae Myung, saying there was "no internal disagreement or confusion" on that core principle. "Views may differ and wishes may vary," he said. "Solutions can be reached through discussion and consultation, and it is the leadership's intention to do exactly that."

Kang added that characterizing differences of opinion as division or conflict was "an excessive reading of the situation."

Kang also announced that the party's affairs committee had given final approval to an amendment to party rules expanding the one-member, one-vote system to include metropolitan and provincial party chapter heads as well as regional committee chairs. He said the change was meant to "supplement what was left out when the original one-member, one-vote reform was adopted." The Supreme Council passed it unanimously with all members present, and all committee members who submitted written opinions at the party affairs committee agreed.

On Jung's Facebook post Friday in which he wrote "complete abolition of supplementary investigation rights," floor spokesperson Lee Ju-hee said the message appeared to have been sent "without sufficient communication" and that she expected "the floor leadership to deliberate thoroughly going forward."