[Politics, That Day...] 'Icon of the Trend' Lee Nak-yeon's 'Painful Memory' 2012 Floor Leader Election

19th National Assembly, Challenge for Democratic United Party Floor Leader Election... Ranked 4th Behind Park Ji-won's Dominance at the Time

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] ‘Politics, On That Day...’ is a series planning corner that looks back on Korean politics through the ‘recollection of memories’ related to notable scenes, events, and figures.

‘Politician Lee Nak-yeon,’ who served as the first Prime Minister under the Moon Jae-in administration, is an icon of the prevailing trend. If one were to name the most likely candidate for the next presidential election scheduled for March 2020, it would undoubtedly be politician Lee Nak-yeon. He ran for and won the ‘political number one district’ Jongno in the 21st general election and is preparing to make another strategic move.

He is challenging for the position of party leader of the ruling party, which holds an overwhelming 177 seats in the National Assembly. Although his participation in the party leader election has not been finalized, if he runs, he is considered a strong contender for victory. However, according to the Democratic Party’s constitution and regulations, there is a variable in that he may have to step down from the party leader position before completing even one year of his term.

Those running for the next presidential election must step down from their position one year before the election, in March 2021. If former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon becomes the leader of the Democratic Party, hopes for the presidential election could grow even stronger. The Lee Nak-yeon prevailing theory implies that it could lead to a massive trend dominating the ruling party’s next presidential election landscape.

However, there is also considerable internal opposition arguing that it is inappropriate for the most likely presidential candidate to also seek the party leader position. If former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon is elected, the Democratic Party will face the burden of having to elect a new party leader again in March next year.

Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon, who is running in Jongno for the April 15 general election, visited the senior citizens' center in Sajik-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 9th, greeting the elderly./Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

While operational finesse such as having the runner-up in this party convention succeed the leadership position could be employed, the scenario where the successor to Leader Lee Hae-chan manages both the next presidential and local elections would not hold.

The reason former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon is considering running in the party leader election despite internal opposition is that it is an opportunity to shed the past image of having weak internal influence. Recently, major elections within the Democratic Party have seen strong performances by politicians with pro-Roh Moo-hyun and pro-Moon Jae-in tendencies.

Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon rose to the prime minister position with President Moon Jae-in’s trust but can be classified as a figure continuing the lineage of the orthodox Democratic Party. When the Democratic Party split into the Open Democratic Party, Lee Nak-yeon was the figure who stayed with the Democratic Party.

This symbolizes Lee Nak-yeon’s consistent political line but also means he is not part of the so-called direct pro-Roh or pro-Moon faction. To realize his presidential ambitions, Lee Nak-yeon must overcome two mountains: skepticism about him and internal party opposition.

Politician Lee Nak-yeon has many strengths but was not a standout figure in internal party elections. The 2012 floor leader election is a representative example. That floor leader election was held after the Democratic United Party suffered defeat in the 19th general election.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Since 2012 also had a presidential election, the political status of the Democratic Party floor leader was significant. The floor leader also concurrently held the position of emergency committee chairman. At that time, formidable figures challenged the Democratic Party floor leader election.

The 2012 presidential election landscape could have changed depending on who became the floor leader. The candidates for floor leader were politicians Park Ji-won, Yoo In-tae, Jeon Byeong-heon, and Lee Nak-yeon. The leading figure of the prevailing trend was Park Ji-won.

The so-called ‘Lee Hae-chan party leader - Park Ji-won floor leader role-sharing theory’ emerged during the election process, becoming a hot topic. The Democratic Party’s 2012 political scenario of Lee Hae-chan as party leader, Park Ji-won as floor leader, and Moon Jae-in as presidential candidate attracted attention.

Yoo In-tae, Jeon Byeong-heon, and Lee Nak-yeon sought solutions against the prevailing trend but found it difficult to unite as a single front. Ultimately, each chose their own path and ran in the floor leader election. The 2012 Democratic Party floor leader election was one of the most fiercely contested elections in history.

On May 4, 2012, the first round of voting did not produce a winner. Park Ji-won, the leading figure of the prevailing trend, received 49 votes, securing first place, and Yoo In-tae showed his strength with 35 votes. Jeon Byeong-heon received 28 votes but failed to advance to the runoff, and Lee Nak-yeon received only 14 votes, finishing last.

Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon visited the exhibition halls of the '2017 Jeonnam Ink Painting Pre-Biennale' held at Mokpo Culture and Arts Center and Jindo Unlim Sanbang on the 4th to view the artworks and encourage the officials. Acting Governor Lee Jae-young of Jeollanam-do, Woo Ki-jong, Jeonnam Deputy Governor for Political Affairs, Congressman Park Ji-won, Mokpo Mayor Park Hong-ryul, Jindo County Governor Lee Dong-jin, and Vice Chairman Kwon Wook of the Provincial Council accompanied him. Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon is seen writing on the ink paintings created by the artists and then looking at the artworks. Photo by Jeonnam Province

Considering former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon’s current political status, the election results at that time may seem unfamiliar. However, it was a time when Park Ji-won’s prevailing trend was dominant, and Yoo In-tae and Jeon Byeong-heon also demonstrated considerable strength based on factional support.

For Lee Nak-yeon, the 2012 Democratic Party floor leader election is a painful memory. After a runoff vote, Park Ji-won won with 67 votes, defeating Yoo In-tae, who received 60 votes. Jeon Byeong-heon and Lee Nak-yeon had to wait for the runoff results.

The 2012 floor leader election remains a lesson for politician Lee Nak-yeon. If he runs in the party leader election this time and achieves an overwhelming victory, he can offset the bitter memories from eight years ago. However, if he struggles unexpectedly, the prevailing trend surrounding the next presidential election could also be shaken.

Politician Lee Nak-yeon stands at a crossroads. He can either challenge the party leader election to dispel views that his internal base is weak or adopt a ‘one step back for two steps forward’ strategy by withdrawing from the race.

What choice will politician Lee Nak-yeon make? One thing is clear: his decision is the biggest variable surrounding the ruling party’s next party leader election.

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