Opposition party's 2 big figures on collision course ahead of election
Former Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Nak-yon, center, heads to the memorial altar at the May 18th National Cemetery in Gwangju, Sunday. Yonhap
Former DPK leader yet to reveal plan to meet current party chief
By Nam Hyun-woo
Former Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Nak-yon / Yonhap
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) could see a possible clash between its two main heavyweights, Chairman Lee Jae-myung and former Chairman Lee Nak-yon, as the latter has been openly criticizing the current DPK leader, deepening divides within the party.
The former chairman returned late last month after staying in the United States for over a year, following the DPK's defeat in the presidential election last year. As the former chairman's return is anticipated to stir the current chairman's control over the party, their tug-of-war is on the political radar because of its potential repercussions on the party in the lead-up to next year's general election.
On Sunday, the former chairman visited the May 18th National Cemetery in Gwangju, as part of his bid to build his political momentum in his hometown of Gwangju, where Korea's liberal party enjoys huge support.
“The DPK should renovate itself to regain public trust and serve its role,” Lee said. “The people of this region seem to be disappointed about not only the conservative Yoon Suk Yeol government but also the DPK.”
Lee continued that the renovation should be about “recovering morality and democracy within the party.”
The remarks have been interpreted as criticisms of the cash-for-vote allegation involving the party's leadership, which is now under investigation. Following the scandal, the current party chairman set up a renewal committee, but ended up creating more issues after disagreement over who to select to lead the committee.
The former chairman's reference to “democracy within the party” is also seen as his response to some extremist actions of fervent supporters of the current chairman. After the current chairman took over the party, some supporters branded the former chairman and members of a faction critical of the party leader as “the culprits” of the presidential election defeat, criticizing them via text message.
The DPK's current leadership issued a tough response to the former chairman's remarks.
A member of the DPK leadership told Newsis, “I want to ask if the former chairman has any intention of apologizing for the previous government's failed policies, in other words, the housing price policies.” The former chairman was the prime minister from 2017 to 2020 under the Moon Jae-in administration.
“It seems like the former chairman is downgrading himself as a factional leader who is seeking to secure candidacy for the general election, not a former prime minister,” the official continued. “Rather than fighting against the current party leadership, it seems more appropriate for him to consider the Yoon Suk Yeol administration as the primary opponent.”
Former Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Nak-yon, left, shakes hands with then-presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung at the party's headquarters in Seoul, March 10, 2022, a day after the latter's defeat in the presidential election. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-keun
Against this backdrop, the two Lees' potential clash is gaining attention because it will clearly show whether they will join hands for the upcoming election or butt heads over control of the party.
While the current chairman's side wants to meet the predecessor as early as possible, as a courtesy, the former chairman's side is yet to budge, saying nothing has been confirmed.
“When the former chairman returned, the current chairman called him and asked for support, making so many people wondering about when they will meet,” Nam Young-hee, deputy head of the Institute for Democracy, the DPK's think tank, said during an interview with broadcaster YTN. “I believe they should meet as soon as possible.”
An official at the DPK told The Korea Times that “the meeting itself matters,” given the past conflicts between the two. “The longer it takes, the more the public will have negative feelings regarding their relationship.”
On Tuesday, the former chairman's side announced that he will pay tribute to the late former President Roh Moo-hyun on Wednesday, and will arrange a meeting with former President Moon later, but did not speak about whether the two Lees will have a meeting.
In the meantime, former Justice Minister and former DPK lawmaker Choo Mi-ae is raising her voice against the former chairman, another move that hints that the DPK's heavyweights are mired in factional infighting.
“The former chairman shouldn't have done that,” Choo said in an interview with broadcaster KBS, Monday, referring to her resignation from the justice minister post in 2021. She said that then-Prime Minister Lee coerced her to step down in order to prevent her conflict with President Yoon, who was prosecutor-general at the time, from affecting by-elections that year.
“The reform of the prosecution was the Moon government's consistent promise, and it was not a matter for Lee to drop for the sake of the elections,” Choo said.
Against this backdrop, some breakaway DPK members' attempts to create new political parties are creating speculations about the two Lees' power game.
A former DPK member, Rep. Yang Hyang-ja, held a ceremony, June 26, to launch the organizing committee for her new political party, called Hope of Korea. Former DPK lawmaker Keum Tae-seop has also set up an organizing committee for a new party, saying “the current DPK is unfixable.”