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Main opposition leader to return to party affairs after monthlong hiatus
Rep. Lee Jae-myung, the chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, arrives at the Seoul Central District Court to stand trial on allegations of corruption, Friday. Yonhap
By Jun Ji-hye
Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Rep. Lee Jae-myung will return to the National Assembly on Monday after a 35-day absence from party affairs.
According to party officials, Lee will officially resume his work by presiding over a Supreme Council meeting.
Lee has been absent from party duties since being admitted to a hospital on Sept. 18 due to worsening health following a hunger strike that began on Aug. 31 to protest the Yoon Suk Yeol government’s policies.
In focus are five lawmakers belonging to the party’s minor faction, who were believed to have voted for a motion requested by the prosecution to arrest Lee, when it was approved by the Assembly in a 149-136 vote on Sept. 21.
Lee faces multiple charges, including breach of trust, bribery and violation of the Foreign Exchange Transaction Act, in connection with a land development project and the unauthorized transfer of money to North Korea. He avoided arrest after a court rejected the warrant on Sept. 27.
The chairman has been facing daunting calls from his loyalists to punish the five for “causing damage to the party,” but at the same time being advised to seek cohesion with members of his party who oppose him.
Such cohesion is considered important as the party needs to prepare for the critical general election that is less than six months away.
In addition, punishing the anti-Lee faction members at this moment could cause unnecessary disruption, at a time when the party’s victory in a crucial by-election has kept his leadership relatively strong despite his absence.
The candidate from the DPK won the by-election to choose a new head of Seoul’s Gangseo District on Oct. 12, which was widely viewed as a prelude to the upcoming general election.
“Lee believes that divisions in the party could lead directly to the party’s defeat in the general election,” a senior DPK lawmaker said, asking not to be named, raising the possibility that Lee could opt not to punish the anti-Lee faction members.
At the Supreme Council meeting, Lee is expected to speak about rising living costs and other economic difficulties that weigh on the general public.
This is apparently aimed at confronting President Yoon Suk Yeol and the ruling People Power Party that have shifted their focus to stabilizing the livelihoods of the public following the party's crushing defeat in the by-election.
Lee is also expected to travel to various parts of the country to meet voters in person, as soon as he is fully recuperated from his 24-day hunger strike against the government.