Factional tensions escalate within DPK amid growing criticism of 'personality cult'

Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, is pictured at the National Assembly in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

Tensions are reaching a breaking point within the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) as some members of its minor factions openly denounce Lee Jae-myung's leadership, saying he made the DPK a "party of his own."

Kim Young-joo, deputy speaker of the National Assembly, is the latest political heavyweight to leave the party in protest of the process of nominating its candidates for the April 10 general elections.

Kim, a veteran lawmaker who served as the minister of labor during the previous Moon Jae-in administration, announced the decision on Monday after being told by the party that her performance as a lawmaker was evaluated as among the bottom 20 percent. She apparently saw it as a move to hand her district over to one of Lee's loyalists.

Deputy Speaker Kim Young-joo speaks at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

"The bottom 20 percent evaluation about me is the most blatant and symbolic sign showing that the DPK is now becoming Lee's own," Kim said. "Over the past four years, I have been evaluated as among the best lawmakers by activists and the media … I demand the party reveal detailed information about the evaluation rubric."

On Tuesday, Rep. Park Yong-jin, an outspoken critic of Lee's leadership, said he also received poor scores, which would significantly lower his chances of obtaining the party's nomination for Gangbuk B, a longtime DPK stronghold.

Park said he would not leave the party but plans to apply for re-evaluation. Yet he added he had little hope that the result would change.

"I disclosed this humiliating result because I wanted to show that the DPK is in a crisis now," he said.

Later that day, Rep. Yoon Young-chan, who served as senior presidential secretary for communications under Moon, said he, too, was evaluated among the bottom 10 percent.

Kim, Park and Yoon all suggested that the primary reason they received such "unfair treatment" was their defiance against unquestioning loyalty to Lee, who apparently seeks to fill the Assembly seats with those close to him.

Before Kim, four lawmakers ― Lee Sang-min, Lee Won-wook, Kim Jong-min and Cho Eung-cheon ― and Lee Nak-yon, former prime minister and DPK chairman, left the party as they saw no political future there.

The list is expected to grow as DPK politicians deemed mavericks or members of anti-Lee factions, such as Im Jong-seok, former presidential chief of staff, and Rep. Lee In-young are waiting for their results from the party's nomination committee.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Lee said such criticism and complaints are inevitable pain as the DPK is going through a transition.

"The people want something new from politics, including how we nominate our candidates. A reform, by definition, could mean the pain from the process of transforming itself into a new shape," he said, adding the evaluation system cannot satisfy everyone.