Lee Jung-hyun, Chairman of the People Power Party's Nomination Review Committee [Photo=Yonhap News]

Around me, there are only Democratic Party supporters. They don't call themselves leftists. This is because they fear the original sin of the leftists, who engaged in countless murders, threats, and violent acts with pitchforks after liberation. Therefore, they do not use terms like progressive or leftist; they only say Democratic Party.

What is abhorrent is that they expect us to live under the illusion that the Democratic Party is good, while attempting to brainwash not only their members but also the public with all sorts of fake news. Because of this, people from Jeolla Province live under the illusion that they are superior and good.

My acquaintances tell me this: if Jeong Jae-hak had fought for the Democratic Party for over 20 years instead of being a patriotic conservative, he would likely be a proportional representative at the national level by now.

That is true. The Democratic Party is a group that has grown its influence around lifelong comrades. Therefore, their core is strong unity, and broadly speaking, they have loyalty in sharing power.

However, the conservative force, the People Power Party, has no comrades. Without comrades, they don't unite. They only care about their own well-being and are indifferent to others' suffering. From the perspective of the People Power Party, I am forever an outsider. Just as they exploited and discarded people during the Park Geun-hye administration, the same has happened during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.

If I, Jeong Jae-hak, did not have love and concern for the Republic of Korea, and did not dream of a beautiful future for our nation, I would have already joined the Democratic Party, where my friends and relatives are. If the Democratic Party were to show even a slight change from their path of betrayal, leaning towards China and North Korea, I might have hope for their transformation.

Based on my long experience, it is clear that the People Power Party will not pay attention to my opinions regarding the nation and its people. Therefore, I hold no hope for the People Power Party.

Instead, I have experienced the Democratic Party showing a willingness to improve in response to my criticism. For example, the Democratic Party is not currently prioritizing education aligned with the Korean Teachers' and Education Workers' Union (KTU). Although they are comrades, they now recognize that it is time to expel the KTU.

In that regard, the People Power Party should be seen as a defunct party. It appears that their policies and party regulations are being dictated by spies who have infiltrated the party. Han Dong-hoon and the Chosun Ilbo, JoongAng Ilbo, and Dong-A Ilbo are prime examples. Also, consider individuals like Yoon Sang-hyun who appear at critical moments; who do you think they are?

Members belonging to the Korea-Japan Friendship Association do not hide their pro-Japanese affiliations, and I see that all those who talk about Korea-China friendship are leaning towards pro-China sentiments. Therefore, the People Power Party has also become, in crude terms, a "mixed bag party" like the Democratic Party.

If I, Jeong Jae-hak, were the Chairman of the Nomination Review Committee, I would manage nominations as follows:

▲ Those aspiring for nomination from the People Power Party will be filtered based on fundamental criteria.

① Above all else (regardless of academic or professional background), filial piety will be the primary criterion for nomination.

② Loyalty and sound values towards the nation and its people will be the second criterion.

③ Those with a creative vision for the future will be the third criterion.

As a result, only those who possess filial piety, loyalty, and vision will be eligible to advance to the primaries.

▲ Those who pass the fundamental criteria will compete fairly in the primaries, and the party must prioritize those chosen by public sentiment.

▲ The party and its affiliated lawmakers cannot exert any influence over this nomination process. Anyone who violates this will be excluded from all future nominations.

Despite the need for such measures, Lee Jung-hyun, the Chairman of the People Power Party's Nomination Review Committee, is acting as if he is a sovereign ruler. Why is someone approved and another rejected? The exclusion of Chungbuk Governor Kim Young-hwan is a good example.

How can there be such nomination management where personal biases are involved and unfairness is evident? This is tantamount to agreeing to perish together.

I am truly curious as to who recommended Lee Jung-hyun as the Nomination Review Committee Chairman and through what process he was appointed.

We are indifferent to whether the People Power Party perishes or not. Our goal is to defend the Republic of Korea, protect the Taegeukgi and the national anthem, and fight until our dying day for the glory of our nation and people. Therefore, we will not dedicate our lives for the sake of the People Power Party.

Do not mistake us for being on the side of the People Power Party just because we talk about conservatism. Both the Democratic Party and your People Power Party are similarly mixed bag parties.

Therefore, we will observe. If it becomes apparent that pro-China and pro-North Korea traitorous forces are operating within the People Power Party's internal divisions, we will not hesitate to push for the dissolution of the party. After all, the public can create and destroy political parties at will, can't they?

◆ Poet Jeong Jae-hak

Poet, National Merit recipient, Columnist, Park Chung-hee Presidential Public Relations Committee member, 36 years of teaching in Jeolla Province