Feud intensifies between PPP head, top presidential contender

Lee Jun-seok, right, chairman of the main opposition People Power Party, shakes hands with Yoon Seok-youl, a leading presidential contender of the party, during their meeting at the National Assembly, Aug. 2. Korea Times file

By Kang Seung-woo

Tension between the head of the main opposition party and its leading front-running presidential hopeful is sharply escalating, as the two have been engaged in an exchange of words on a nearly daily basis in what seems to be each striving to have a bigger say in the lead-up to next year's presidential election.

The latest fracas between People Power Party (PPP) Chairman Lee Jun-seok and former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl came, Wednesday, as Shin Ji-ho, a former PPP lawmaker and member of Yoon's camp, mentioned “impeaching” Lee for his “self-righteous” management of the party regarding the first debate of its preliminary contenders.

While the party chairman wants every contender to participate in the Aug. 18 debate, Yoon's side is showing reluctance on his participation, complaining that he has not yet registered as a preliminary presidential candidate with the party.

But what seems to be the real cause for the reluctance is the fact that Yoon has not yet been prepared for a debate and lacks broad knowledge on various social issues, as evidenced by recent slips of the tongue which have drawn criticism.

“If the decision of the party leader, or even that of the president, is not based on the Constitution or other laws, doesn't it deserve consideration of impeachment?” Shin said during a radio interview.

A head of a political party is not subject to “impeachment” like the President, but each party has its own regulations to recall or remove its head through members' votes or other means.

In response, Lee struck back at the remark.

“Finally, Yoon's side mentioned impeaching me, making it clear why it has been uncooperative with the party leadership,” the 36-year-old said on Facebook.

“I have never seen a camp trying to shake up its party leadership.”

The PPP leadership also hit out at Yoon's camp, calling on Shin to quit.

“As a lot of people join presidential candidates' camps, it is inevitable to see a commotion, but it should not cross the line,” said Rep. Kim Jae-won, a member of the PPP Supreme Council.

However, the hard feelings have also intensified over a YouTube video clip recorded in March, before Yoon joined the PPP, in which Lee said he would “leave the Earth” if Yoon is elected president.

In another YouTube clip from December 2019, Lee said the party he belongs to would overwhelmingly win the general elections in 2020, paving the way for Yoo Seong-min to win Cheong Wa Dae, which stirred controversy. Yoo, a former four-term lawmaker, is one of the PPP's presidential hopefuls and his close ties with Lee have been a controversy, with other contenders suspecting Lee may lead the primary in favor of Yoo.

The tumultuous relationship between the Lee-Yoon feud dates back to late July when the former prosecutor general joined the PPP without notifying the PPP leadership, as evidenced by Lee's absence at the occasion.

In addition, tension flared up after Yoon decided to skip a charity event for the party's presidential primary runners earlier this month.

But as the tensions grow, the Yoon camp said it could consider participating in a debate, adding that there is no reason for Lee and Yoon to engage in a power struggle.

“There are no hard feelings over Lee,” Yoon said on Instagram, Wednesday.

He also called Lee, Thursday, asking for understanding about the impeachment remark. It is also said Yoon criticized Shin for the remark, which made Shin apologize.