DPK leader eyes 2nd term despite concerns over excessive control

Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung, left, exits the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday, after resigning from the post to renew his chairmanship by running for the party's chairman election in August. Yonhap

Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Rep. Lee Jae-myung confirmed his bid to renew his chairmanship for another term by running in the party's election slated for August.

The move, however, is drawing criticism and concerns not only from the ruling People Power Party (PPP) but also from fringe members of the DPK. Lee, who enjoys fervent support from his dedicated fan base, is solidifying undisputed control over the party without facing significant competition from other strong contenders.

During a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday, Lee said he had resigned from the chairman post, a precondition to run in the DPK's leadership election that will take place during the party’s national convention. A DPK rule stipulates that individuals running for elected positions must resign from any party posts they hold before candidate registration begins.

Lee did not explicitly declare his candidacy for the election, but told reporters, "I will need to monitor how things unfold. However, I can affirm that if I were not considering running for the chairman election, I would not have resigned today."

He added that the current political environment has influenced his decision regarding the chairmanship election.

“After considering everything, I felt that I should prioritize what is more desirable for the people and the politics of the country over my personal stance,” he said.

The DPK plans to hold its national convention on Aug. 18, and the chairperson elected during the event will serve until August 2026, meaning he or she will have the power to recommend candidates for the June 2026 local elections and for the presidential election in March 2027.

Due to this timetable, Lee’s bid for his second term is viewed as a preparation for future events, namely the presidential election.

Main opposition Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Lee Jae-myung speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. He resigned from the post to renew his chairmanship by running for the party's chairman election in August. Yonhap

Although the DPK has not yet begun the candidate registration process for the chairman election, party officials and political analysts are already predicting that there will be no viable contender. This is due to Lee's firm control over the party, which was solidified after the DPK's overwhelming victory in the April 10 general elections.

“After our defeats in the presidential election and local elections both in 2022, the party has been suffering from a serious leadership vacuum, and it was Lee’s leadership which navigated the DPK through the hardships and eventually clinched the victory at the April 10 general elections,” a DPK official said. “With Lee already commanding a strong leadership over the party, who else can be the leader?”

As the official said, the party’s mainstream has been dominated by Lee’s loyalists.

DPK Rep. Kang Sun-woo, who announced her candidacy for Supreme Council membership in August, said, Monday, "It is clear and natural for Lee to take on the party chairmanship ... Lee has fulfilled his role with responsibility and dedication, reaffirming the party's principles through a resounding victory in the general elections."

The PPP slammed Lee’s bid for a second term by saying that the main opposition party has devolved into his personal political entity, enabling the leader to exert undisputed control and suppress dissenting opinions.

“The DPK has virtually deteriorated into Lee Jae-myung’s private party,” PPP spokesperson Yoon Hee-seok said. “He is now being worshipped as if he is the founding father of the DPK and consolidated his position as the supreme leader.”

Some DPK members also question whether Lee's second term will be beneficial for the 2027 presidential election.

During an interview with broadcaster YTN, DPK Rep. Kim Young-bae, who is considered a centrist of the party, said, “Lee’s second term seems to be inevitable given the circumstances. But there are concerns whether this will be advantageous for Lee and the DPK in the 2027 presidential election.”

Some DPK members criticize Lee's bid for a second term, suggesting it is aimed at shielding himself from indictments he faces on four charges, including a land development scandal in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, and a case involving an underwear company's unauthorized remittance to North Korea.

Then-People Power Party Chairman-elect Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, front, waves the party's flag during its national convention at KINTEX convention hall in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, March 8, 2023. Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwon

Some DPK members are concerned about the public losing interest in the national convention. While it seems probable that Lee will secure the chairmanship without significant challenges, the ruling PPP is garnering public focus on its national convention in July. Heavyweights, such as former leader Han Dong-hoon, former Land Minister Won Hee-ryong, and five-term lawmaker Na Kyung-won are heralding a competitive race.

A tight competition between candidates resulted in a boost in the PPP’s previous national convention. In polls conducted between February and March last year, the PPP retained a lead over the DPK by up to a 10 percentage point gap, as the party’s national convention on March 8 absorbed political attention and raised the public's expectations over the leadership, as Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon clinched a victory over Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo and other rivals.