Democratic Party leadership race intensifies with lawsuits, accusations, and mutual criticism

The Democratic Party of Korea leadership race is intensifying conflict amid a confrontation between the proMyung faction and the proChung faction. Accusations were exchanged between the candidates and party members, and some claims escalated into criminal complaints and reports. Jeong Cheongrae, a candidate for party leader, argued on the 4th that Kim Minseok should apologize if he cannot provide evidence for the allegation that the Shincheonji sect interfered in the party convention. Jeong’s camp said it has completed legal measures against the media and YouTube channels that spread the allegation. Kim Minseok’s camp also demanded an apology, saying that remarks by Supreme Council candidate Choi Minhee distorted his words. Party members supporting Kim raised issues regarding videos from the joint candidates’ speeches, and those involved even mentioned the possibility of filing a complaint. Both sides also reported each other to the party election management committee, claiming their campaign activities violated party rules. Clashes in remarks have also continued among the Supreme Council candidates, and both inside and outside the party there are growing concerns about the overheated competition over nomination rights for the 2028 general election.