Jung Chung-rae calls for unity among supporters of four Democratic presidents

Jung Chung-rae, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has proposed uniting the support bases of four former and current presidents — Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in and Lee Jae Myung.

Speaking at an invited lecture hosted by Honam Ilbo TV at Chosun University in Gwangju on Friday, Jung said South Korea's ambitions to become one of the world's top three AI powers and a top-five economy required not only a successful five-year term for President Lee Jae Myung, but also a successive Democratic government to follow.

He then outlined what he called a "four-administration unity" vision, saying, "Everyone who supported Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in and Lee Jae Myung must come together."

"You cannot cut the roots and still expect flowers to bloom," Jung said. "Without Kim Dae-jung there would have been no Roh Moo-hyun, without Roh there would have been no Moon Jae-in, and without Moon there would have been no Lee Jae Myung."

He also urged the party to avoid internal conflict and ridicule, calling for broader solidarity. "We must not fight among ourselves or split apart, and we must not mock each other," he said. "We should integrate and build alliances beyond the party to achieve a grand unity of the pro-democracy and progressive camp."

Jung also highlighted his personal ties to President Lee, recounting how he had stood by Lee during the National Assembly vote on his arrest motion, his hunger strike, and the court review of his arrest warrant.

"There is a lot of talk about the party leadership race, but I believe Jung Chung-rae is the one who will go all the way with President Lee Jae Myung," he said. "Do not worry."

Responding to criticism that he was engaged in self-serving politics, Jung pushed back. "I would ask those who attack me for playing self-serving politics: did you spend 100 percent of your time serving others?" he said.

On regional development, Jung pointed to the renewable energy infrastructure built during the Moon Jae-in administration as the foundation for Gwangju and South Jeolla Province's economic prospects. "Do you know why a semiconductor cluster is coming to Gwangju and South Jeolla, and why 800 trillion won ($532 billion) is being invested there?" he said. "It is because President Moon laid down a great deal of wind and solar power capacity in the region."

He added that semiconductors, physical AI and AI data centers all require electricity and water. "Because the Moon government built that infrastructure in Honam, President Lee also judged that Gwangju and South Jeolla — with their water and electricity — were the right place to go," Jung said.

Jung also said the region deserved recognition for its role in South Korea's democratic development. "Extraordinary sacrifice must be met with extraordinary reward," he said, adding that he had established a special committee on Honam development because "the time has come for the state to answer what it has given back for Honam's dedication and sacrifice in advancing democracy in this country."

"Honam is the symbol of democratization and will become the sacred ground of a great South Korea," he said. "If the revolution of democracy in the past began in Honam, the revolution of economic development in the future will also begin here."