Noh Young-hee says Jung Chung-rae's party leader bid is 'taunting' President Lee

Pro-government attorney Noh Young-hee said many people are interpreting former Democratic Party of Korea leader Jung Chung-rae's declaration to run for party leader as an attack on President Lee Jae Myung, after Jung said during his announcement that he would "not use the party leadership position to run in the presidential election."

Appearing on CBS Radio's "Park Sung-tae's News Show" on Tuesday, Noh said Jung "always lets his bad habits show" despite repeatedly saying things like "I will protect the president" and "I will go all the way." "His announcement was timed for 2 p.m. — of all times, when the president was holding an important meeting," she said. "He also says supplementary investigative powers must be abolished, no questions asked. These things have piled up more than once or twice. Taken together, it all comes across as behavior that slightly provokes and mocks — a kind of taunting — of President Lee."

Noh added: "If Jung deliberately laid the groundwork with that in mind, that is really bad. I think it is genuinely malicious. There was no need to include a line saying he would not use the party leadership to run for president — that part is a little suspicious."

Noh also questioned why Jung would undercut the president, noting that former President Moon Jae-in had also served as party leader before running for president. "You cannot go after all former presidents for that," she said, adding that her distrust of Jung stems from the same context.

President Lee chaired a national fiscal strategy meeting at 2 p.m. Monday. At the same time, Jung made what was in effect a declaration of candidacy, emphasizing, "I will not use the party leadership position to run in the presidential election," and saying, "I will protect President Lee Jae Myung and the Democratic Party — so I ask party members to protect me."

In response, political commentator Jang Sung-cheol, director of the Public Discourse Center, said on the same program that the two "seem to be at odds — they just don't click. There's a presidential event at 2 p.m. and his announcement is also scheduled for 2 p.m. It could be a coincidence, but even something that trivial doesn't line up. It's a difficult situation."

On Jung's remark about not running for president, Jang said it appeared to signal that Jung "plans to make various political moves aimed at a presidential run after the general election," given that the party leader's term runs through August 2028. He added: "Jung says he alone can protect the president and make his tenure a success, and talks about 'one team, one voice' — but the past year has shown that has not been the case. He is simply demanding to be trusted, and I find myself doubtful that party members will be able to do that."

Jang said he was "quite disappointed" in Jung's decision to seek the party leadership, saying Jung would be better rewarded in the long run if he "served with selfless dedication, marched as a foot soldier, and played a major role in preventing intra-camp conflict," rather than being "too consumed by the immediate prize of party power."