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Democratic Party Chairman Jung Cheong-rae appears lost in thought during a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on June 10. / Courtesy of Reporter Lee Byung-hwa

Jung Cheong-rae, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, announced his resignation from the party leadership on June 24. The decision is widely viewed as a procedural step to clear the path for a reelection bid at the upcoming national convention scheduled for August 17, ahead of the expiration of his current tenure.

"Today, I am stepping down as party chairman," Jung said at the conclusion of a Supreme Council meeting held at the party's National Assembly office. "I will do my absolute best from wherever I stand to ensure the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration."

In his remarks, Jung invoked the political legacies of former Presidents Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in, reaffirming his commitment to upholding the historical legitimacy of the Democratic Party. He centered much of his speech on emphasizing his close, long-standing alliance with President Lee Jae-myung. "President Lee and I first met in 2007, and over the past two decades, he is the politician with whom I have shared the deepest personal conversations," Jung stated. "President Lee and I are bound by a shared political destiny—we operate as a single entity."

Reflecting on recent political challenges, Jung noted, "The June 3 local elections left us with critical homework. They delivered a clear lesson: united we win, divided we fall." He also expressed his determination to see through the reform agenda initiated during his leadership, urging that these efforts continue uninterrupted under the next leadership structure. "From cementing party-member sovereignty to enforcing the 'one person, one vote' principle, and tackling prosecution, media, and judicial reforms—none of it was easy," Jung observed. "But if we halt these reforms, we stall our momentum for progress and the future."

Under the Democratic Party’s internal regulations, any official seeking to run in the leadership election must step down from their current party post before the national convention preparation committee and the election management committee are officially authorized. During the day's meeting, the Supreme Council referred the establishment plans for both committees to the Central Committee, which is expected to finalize their formation following a vote on June 26.

Following the announcement, party spokesperson Kang Jun-hyeon briefed reporters on the subsequent administrative transitions. "With Chairman Jung's resignation, appointed political officials across the party, including the secretary-general and the chief spokesperson, have resigned en masse," Kang explained. "Floor Leader Han Byeong-do has stepped in as acting chairman to oversee the remaining legislative and party business." When pressed on when Jung would formally declare his bid for reelection, Kang added, "I expect he will announce his official position directly at an appropriate time." Regarding reports of a planned visit to former President Moon Jae-in, Kang noted, "As he is now operating in a private capacity, we cannot verify his personal itinerary."

                                                                                                             Shim Jun-bo