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| The ruling People Power Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Sunday. Yonhap |
Infighting intensifies between Lee, pro-Yoon lawmakers
By Jung Min-ho
Factional infighting is intensifying within the ruling People Power Party (PPP) as Lee Jun-seok, its young, Harvard-educated leader, clashes with veteran lawmakers over control ― and therefore, the future ― of the party.
A power struggle has emerged mainly between Lee, 37, and politicians close to President Yoon Suk-yeol, such as party leader Rep. Kweon Seong-dong and Rep. Chang Je-won. They all appear to be aiming to secure nomination rights for the 2024 National Assembly elections.
Speaking at Sunday's press conference marking the first anniversary of his leadership, Lee expressed his ambition to transform the party.
"So far, I have tried my best for election wins. From now on, I will shift my focus to myself," he said at the National Assembly in Seoul. "I will reform the party so that it will reflect my political will more, creating a world I think is right and making policies I think are needed. The process will be democratic, but it will surely have more of my color … I tolerated unfair criticism and I made plenty of sacrifices for our collective goals."
Since last June when he took the leadership ― as the youngest person to do so ― Lee has tightened his grip on the party through the wins in two crucial elections, which resulted in the transfer of power in the executive branch and PPP candidates winning in a majority of local offices nationwide.
"For the next year, I will set up a system for nominations for the 2024 elections, which I think will determine whether this government will succeed," he said. "New rules will be reviewed and reflected in the party's constitution so that it won't regress to what it used to be … Those who stand in the way should be ashamed of themselves."
The statement helps to clarify the reason behind his power struggle with other PPP leaders. Earlier that day, Lee appeared on the KBS show "Sunday Diagnosis," in which he welcomed Rep. Chang's decision not to join "Mindeulle," a pro-Yoon lawmakers' group.
"It's a reasonable conclusion, and his decision should be respected," Lee said. "Chang should have said, however, that he made the decision for the Yoon government's success instead of mentioning his special relationship with Kweon (in his statement after the decision)."
Last week, PPP Reps. Lee Chul-gyu and Lee Yong-ho sent PPP lawmakers official invitations to the group, with a plan to launch it on June 15. Despite their explanation that it is just a study group for lawmakers, it was widely viewed as a move to expand the faction's influence over the party by taking advantage of members' close ties to Yoon.
Lee also sent a warning to Rep. Chung Jin-suk, who has been criticizing him constantly, including on his visit to Kyiv, the capital of war-torn Ukraine, demanding respect from Chung.
Yet challenges lie ahead for the ambitious Lee. The most obvious one is the accusation that he received sexual services ― paid for by businessmen ― in return for helping them gain access to then-President Park Geun-hye, due to his close ties with her in 2013. Lee may not be charged with bribery, even if it is found to be factual, given that he was not a government official ― yet, it may prove to be politically fatal.
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