"Pro-Lee Jun-seok" Chung Mi-kyung Steps down from People Power Party Supreme Council, "Lee Jun-seok Should Stop"

People Power Party Supreme Council member Chung Mi-kyung speaks at a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the morning of June 9. National Assembly press photographers

People Power Party (PPP) Supreme Council member Chung Mi-kyung, known as a Lee Jun-seok supporter, expressed her intention to resign as Supreme Council member on August 8. She urged Lee Jun-seok, who is currently getting ready to take legal action, to make a political resolution and said he should stop “for a greater cause.”

This morning, Chung held a press conference at the National Assembly and said, “I stand here with a painful heart amidst a situation where we can no longer go against this massive political flow,” and announced her intention to resign. She appears to have made the decision before the party’s emergency response committee launches at a National Committee on August 9.

The PPP Supreme Council member said, “I am worried and afraid as to what the people will think. At present, just speaking what is right is painful. It is also painful to watch my colleagues divided, harshly criticizing each other.” She continued and said, “The various things occurring to us now and the practical indicators give me a gut feeling that it is dangerous and that we can all collapse together. So I think right now, swiftly resolving the confusion and division in the party is top priority.”

Chung also said, “My dream is to completely replace the existing political power ahead of our victory in the upcoming parliamentary elections,” and added, “Let us not criticize each other for taking different paths to get there.” She further said, “No matter how hard we work, if we lose in the elections, our hard work will become meaningless,” and stressed, “We must not forget that we won the presidential election with fairness and common sense.”

Chung urged the party leader Lee Jun-seok to stop his verbal attacks and legal action, such as seeking a court injunction to suspend the validity of the party’s decision. She said, “Lee must walk the path of a great man.” She mentioned that Lee was also somewhat responsible for the current situation and stressed, “The party leader should stop at around this point. It is not the time for him to talk about legal action.” Reportedly, Lee and a group of Lee’s supporters are each preparing to apply for a court injunction to suspend the validity of the party’s decision to have the PPP run by an emergency response committee.

Chung also emphasized that Lee should resolve the internal strife by making a political resolution. She said, “Originally, I suggested that Lee and Supreme Council member Kim Yong-tae hold the press conference together (to announce our resignation).” She explained, “I was surprised as I watched Lee pour out his comments these few days,” and argued, “We can’t go about this way. We really need to see the long-term big picture.” She further said, “This chaos is up to Lee. If Lee stops for a greater cause, I believe the people will see and applaud.”

Now that Chung has resigned, Kim Yong-tae is the only pro-Lee Jun-seok member remaining in the PPP Supreme Council. Chung and Kim were not present when the Supreme Council decided to put the party under the leadership of an emergency committee on August 2.