Fierce Ruling Party Leadership Race... Full-Scale Move to Check Lee Nak-yeon

Lee Nak-yeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending a party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 2nd, greeting lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] As the outlines of the Democratic Party's leadership candidates emerge, the leadership race is gradually heating up. In particular, the most likely frontrunner, Lee Nak-yeon, Chair of the COVID-19 National Crisis Management Committee, has become the main target of checks and balances.

On the 2nd, Representative Hong Young-pyo, who has firmly decided to challenge for the Democratic Party leadership, appeared on JTBC's 'Jeon Yong-woo's NewsON' and stated, "If a presidential candidate becomes the party leader, there will be three party conventions within a year," adding, "Party conventions do not always bring only a convention effect but can also have side effects." This was a remark aimed at Lee, a leadership contender and presidential candidate, and former Representative Kim Boo-kyum.

Representative Hong said, "Can other presidential candidates readily agree to one person holding both the party leadership and the presidential candidacy?" and added, "It is not desirable for the party that a presidential candidate also holds the party leadership."

According to the Democratic Party's rule separating party leadership and presidential candidacy, if a presidential candidate becomes the party leader, they must resign one year before the presidential election. If a presidential candidate assumes the party leadership, they will only hold the position for seven months. Within the party, concerns have been raised that "if the term is only seven months, competitive candidates will not run for the Supreme Council member position," and discussions on revising the party constitution are underway. However, there are criticisms that these discussions themselves might be intended to pave a smooth path for Lee Nak-yeon to the presidency. Representative Hong's remarks are interpreted as a check on Lee by pointing out this potentially vulnerable situation.

Lee Nak-yeon's bid for party leadership has also brought changes to the internal power dynamics. The speculation that Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun might support former Representative Kim's leadership bid is a representative example. It is speculated that Prime Minister Chung, a potential presidential candidate, could use the "Kim Boo-kyum card" to check Lee Nak-yeon's dominance. For former Representative Kim, who is from the Yeongnam region, there is no reason to refuse the support of the Chung Sye-kyun (SK) faction, which has a solid base in the Honam region. Both sides strongly deny such alliance rumors, but if former Representative Kim decides to run in the party convention, it is expected that the SK faction will support him in some way.

Lee Nak-yeon, who is being checked by all leadership and presidential candidates, will start expanding his support base through a provincial tour from this day. As Chair of the party's COVID-19 National Crisis Management Committee, Lee will hold a series of meetings with mayors and governors nationwide. On this day, he will meet with metropolitan leaders from Daejeon, Sejong, Chungnam, and Chungbuk in Osong, Cheongju, Chungbuk. On the 8th, he will hold meetings in the Yeongnam region, on the 12th in the Honam region, and on the 18th in the Gangwon region. After the meetings, he will visit local bases to listen to on-site difficulties. Some within the party interpret Lee's move as an effort to solidify his regional base ahead of the party convention.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.