Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.
Lee grapples with headwinds following local elections as party rift, ballot shortage issues deepen
President Lee Jae Myung presides over a senior presidential secretaries' meeting via videoconference from a hotel in Rome, Sunday, during his state visit to Italy. Courtesy of Cheong Wa Dae
By Yi Whan-woo
President holds virtual senior aides' meeting from Italy as pressure mounts at home
President Lee Jae Myung is grappling with a difficult political moment at home, as a widening rift with ruling party leadership and a public backlash over ballot shortages in the June 3 local elections are pulling down his approval ratings.
These political headwinds prompted Lee to remain focused on developments at home even during his diplomatic tour in Europe, leading to him convening an unprecedented virtual meeting with senior presidential aides in Seoul and commenting on political issues through social media.
The unease between Cheong Wa Dae and the leadership of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has grown following the party's less-than-satisfactory local election results.
The DPK won 12 of the nation's 16 metropolitan mayoral and provincial governorship elections. However, it lost the Seoul mayoral race — widely regarded as the bellwether of national elections.
The outcome, coupled with defeats in closely watched battleground districts in the parliamentary by-elections held concurrently with the local elections, fueled criticism of DPK Chairman Jung Chung-rae and triggered a debate over whether he should step down over the unsatisfactory results.
The speculation peaked last week when the president lauded Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, who is eyeing a run against Jung, who is seeking reelection in August's party leadership vote.
During a party meeting on June 10, Jung said, "The people are eternal, while governments are temporary ... no government can prevail against the people."
Jung's comments were widely interpreted as being directed at the president.
Two days later, Lee wrote in a social media post, "The ruling party must take responsibility for the nation's future and the lives of all citizens, and seek reelection through results-backed achievements."
Jung said Tuesday that party members should be at the center of the party's decision-making, adding, "Just as the people are the owners of the nation, party members are the owners of the party."
These exchanges between a president and a leader of the ruling party are rare, although neither specifically disclosed whom their comments were directed at, suggesting a rift within the party.
Ruling Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Jung Chung-rae speaks during a party meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
Adding to the pressure on the president is a ballot shortage controversy that has eroded public trust in the electoral process.
The National Election Commission (NEC) was unable to accurately predict voter turnout, causing ballot papers to run out at dozens of polling stations and triggering protests that are still ongoing.
The presidential office initially said the issue should be handled by the NEC, citing its status as an independent constitutional body. However, it later called for a thorough investigation as public discontent grew, including protest statements issued by university student groups at multiple campuses across the country.
Jung Jae-hwan, a political science professor at Inha University, said, "The tensions do not appear to be letting up but instead seem to be escalating, a situation that is likely unnerving the president as he also faces public resentment over the ballot shortage controversy that damaged trust in the electoral process.”
A combination of these factors has contributed to a fourth consecutive weekly decline in the president’s approval rating.
His approval rating fell to 51.5 percent in the latest survey, conducted in the second week of June by Realmeter and released Monday. It extended a downward trend from 60.5 percent in the second week of May to 59.3 percent and 59.1 percent in the following weeks, before dropping further to 55.2 percent in the first week of June.
The survey, commissioned by local news outlet EKN, was conducted from June 8 to 12 among 2,515 eligible voters aged 18 and older nationwide. It had a margin of error of plus or minus 2 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.
The survey also showed the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) outpolling the DPK for the first time since Lee took office in June last year.
The PPP garnered 44.3 percent support — its highest level under the Lee government — compared with the DPK's 38 percent.
The PPP's gain was attributed in part to victories by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho and other high-profile conservative figures in local elections.
Support for the DPK fell for a third consecutive week, slipping into the 30 percent range for the first time in 10 months since the second week of August last year, when it stood at 39.9 percent. It also marked the party's lowest level of support since the beginning of Lee's term.
Pressured by domestic issues, Lee broke with precedent by presiding over a senior secretaries' meeting via videoconference from Italy, Sunday, in the middle of his ongoing June 9–18 trip to Europe, marking the first time a Korean president has held such a meeting while abroad.
When a president travels abroad, domestic affairs are typically left to the prime minister and the presidential chief of staff, who also assume responsibility for meetings normally chaired by the president, including Cabinet and senior secretaries’ meetings.
“Of course there is a connection between the aftermath of the local elections and the president keeping a close watch on issues at home despite his busy schedule meeting world leaders abroad," Shin Yul, a political science professor at Myongji University, said.