Once being a member of the now-defunct Alliance of Liberal Democrats (ALDE) that was a coalition partner to the National Congress for New Politics (NCNP) during the Kim Dae-jung government, he served as the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries from March to September 2001, which he resigned following the ALDE's departure from the government.

[1][2][3] The ALDE soon formed an alliance with National Congress for New Politics (NCNP) and nominated Kim Dae-jung as its candidate at the 1997 presidential election.

[2] Under his ministerial tenure, employees of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries took English examinations in order to enhance the quality.

[9] In 2004, the National Assembly voted for the impeachment of Roh Moo-hyun following his remarks that supporting the then de facto ruling Uri Party.

The event, however, provoked a widespread anger among the people, which let the Uri Party to win the majority (152 out of 300 seats) at the 2004 election.

[20] During his governorship, North Chungcheong attracted the highest manufacturing investment in South Korea,[21] which is about 21,575,100,000,000 won (£13,345,028,604).

[22][23] He also organised the North Chungcheong Provincial Performing Arts Company, as well as corporate mecenat movements.

[24] Cheongju International Airport aviation MRO project, which he promoted during his tenure, was ended up with permanent cancellation after Asiana Airlines officially abandoned it on 29 August 2016.

[41][42] On 16 December 2016, shortly after the National Assembly voted in favour of the impeachment of Park Geun-hye, Chung was elected parliamentary leader of the Saenuri Party, defeating Na Kyung-won.

[49] On 10 March, the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment in a unanimous 8–0 decision,[50][51] which provoked the snap presidential election on 9 May.

[63] On 27 December 2021, Chung announced he would contest at the 2022 Sangdang by-election,[64] which was triggered following the election of Jeong Jeong-soon was declared void on 1 September.

[66][67] As the Democratic Party decided to not contest, Chung was expected to win uncontested,[68] however, he faced a challenge from 3 independent candidates, including the Democrats-friendly Kim Shi-jean.

[70] A pro-Park Geun-hye figure,[43][44] Chung was one of the 9 hardliner MPs revealed by the then Governor of Gyeonggi Nam Kyung-pil in 2016.

[81] On 19 September 1996, Chung provoked a controversy when he assaulted an NCNP MP Bang Yong-seok during a parliamentary session.

[82] People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), condemned Chung and filed lawsuit against him 4 days later.

[84] On 12 September 2016, Chung made a Facebook post, where he wrote that the 2016 Gyeongju earthquake was due to North Korean nuclear test 3 days ago.