Rep. Lee Sang-min quits Democratic Party of Korea
Rep. Lee Sang-min of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, center, looks at his watch during a meeting in the National Assembly, Seoul, Nov. 23. Yonhap
A five-term lawmaker quit the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Sunday, claiming the DPK has become a personal party of leader Lee Jae-myung with pro-Lee extremist members exercising too much influence.
"I am parting ways with the Democratic Party of Korea as of today," Rep. Lee Sang-min said in a statement to the press. "Since Chairman Lee Jae-myung took over as leader, the party has become Lee Jae-myung's personal party and a party of Gaeddal, let alone becoming a better party."
Gaeddal, short for "daughters of reform" in Korean, refers to rank-and-file DPK members extremely loyal to party leader Lee. They have often come under criticism for taking collective actions, such as online attacks on anyone criticizing the leader.
One of the non-mainstream DPK lawmakers, Lee Sang-min has hinted at the possibility in recent months of leaving the DPK, prompting speculation that he could join the ruling People Power Party (PPP) ahead of April's parliamentary elections.
Lee said he will look for a "new path" and think about what course of action he will follow. (Yonhap)