Park Chan-dae and Jeong Cheong-rae to Present Their Platforms at National Democratic Party Convention

On June 29, the Democratic Party of Korea's largest faction, the 'Democratic National Innovation Council,' will host a national convention where candidates for party leader, Park Chan-dae (박찬대) and Jeong Cheong-rae (정청래), will present their platforms. This will mark the first time the two lawmakers share a stage since announcing their candidacies.

According to the Innovation Council, the event will take place at the Osco Grand Ballroom in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, where a new leadership team will be inaugurated, including members like Lee Kwang-hee (이광희), Kim Gi-pyo (김기표), and Kim Moon-soo (김문수) as co-chairs. Additionally, two outside figures, Yoo Dong-cheol (유동철), the head of the Busan Suyeong District Committee, and former Daejeon Mayor Heo Tae-jeong (허태정), will also be elected to the leadership team, bringing the total to five representatives.

Both Park and Jeong have been invited to share their visions for the party, each allotted five minutes for their presentations, which will be streamed live on YouTube. Given that this party leadership election is seen as a contest between the 'Myeongshim' faction, the keywords in their speeches are highly anticipated.

During a recent address at the National Assembly on June 26, President Lee Jae-myung (이재명) pointed to both lawmakers, encouraging them to shake hands, and playfully placed his hands over theirs while tapping their arms, smiling.

Afterward, Park commented to reporters that he believed the gesture was meant to signify a friendly competition between them. Jeong, on his Facebook, interpreted it as a call to avoid division and to conduct a celebratory convention instead.