[Exclusive] 'Pro-Moon' Faction, Lee Nak-yeon 'No Confidence' Movement... Aftermath of 'Lee Myung-bak·Park Geun-hye' Pardon Remarks

Lee Nak-yeon's Remarks on Pardoning Former Presidents 'MB·Park' Spark Anger Among Democratic Party Members
'Pro-Moon' Faction Moves Beyond Anger to Action... Lee Reported for 'Violating Party Ethics'
Blue House Petition Against Pardoning Former Presidents Gains 50,000 Supporters as of 3rd
Some Democratic Party Lawmakers Publicly Express Opposition

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving an interview to Yonhap News in the party leader's office at the National Assembly to mark the New Year of 2021, the Year of the Ox.

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, sparked fierce criticism from the 'Pro-Moon' (친문) faction and 'Moonbba' (a derogatory term for people who blindly support President Moon Jae-in) after mentioning the pardon of former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye on New Year's Day (January 1).

Some supporters openly expressed distrust toward Lee, even calling for a vote of confidence in the party leader. There is also a movement to report Lee for violating the Democratic Party's ethical code, causing the backlash over his remarks on pardoning the two former presidents to spread widely. Additionally, a Blue House petition opposing Lee's opinion has surpassed 50,000 signatures amid opposition from party lawmakers.

On January 2, a post calling for a vote of no confidence in Lee appeared on a pro-government (친여) online community. A Democratic Party supporter who wrote the post urged, "Ask party members to vote on the party leader's confidence regarding the pardon authority for Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye," demanding that Lee take responsibility for the situation and confirm his leadership through a confidence vote.

This is interpreted as a form of pressure, drawing a parallel to former President Roh Moo-hyun's statement in October 2003, when he said he would seek a vote of confidence amid accumulated public distrust, and suggesting that if Lee's vote of confidence is rejected, he should resign as party leader.

At that time, former President Roh held an emergency press conference and said, "I believe I can receive a vote of confidence through appropriate public discussion. Regarding the timing of the confidence vote, I would also like to ask the public, but I think it is right to choose a time that causes the least government vacancy and confusion." He added, "However, I will not delay this for too long to avoid it. No matter how late, I plan to receive a vote of confidence before or after the general election."

On the afternoon of November 12, 2016, when a large-scale Minjung Rally was held, citizens filling the square in front of City Hall at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul lit candles, urging then-President Park Geun-hye to step down.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Democratic Party supporter further criticized, "I did not carry a candlelight three times back and forth between Busan and Seoul for nothing," and said, "Hasn't the feeble sentimentalism and the history of unfulfilled punishment fostered the social maladies of Korean society?" He added, "My life is ruined, but I support the relatively better Democratic Party because I do not want to leave the same society to my children."

He raised his voice, saying, "Although we have no choice but to live together with Lee Myung-bak, Park Geun-hye, and this society, I have absolutely no desire to unite with them politically, mentally, or morally without reflection."

Another Democratic Party supporter wrote in a post, "I am reporting Lee Nak-yeon to the party for violating the ethical code. Even non-party members can report," calling for disciplinary action against Lee.

Supporters pointed out in comments on the post, "Lee's remarks on the pardon will undermine our government's and party's reform will and cause division within the party. Moreover, there is evidence suggesting collusion with the subjects of reform, making the issue more serious."

They added, "Accordingly, based on the party's constitution and regulations, we intend to report Lee Nak-yeon for violating ethical duties such as the duty of sincerity and fair performance of duties. We hope for swift punishment." As of 2:30 p.m. on January 3, dozens of comments supporting disciplinary action against Lee had been posted.

Former President Lee Myung-bak, who was sentenced to 17 years in prison on October 29 last year by the Supreme Court for charges including embezzlement of company funds and bribery, is entering Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu on the morning of the 30th for medical treatment.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, voices of opposition have also emerged within the party. Woo Sang-ho, a Democratic Party lawmaker who declared his candidacy for the Seoul mayoral by-election, expressed opposition to the pardon on Facebook on January 1, saying, "Neither of the two has shown clear remorse or apology. In Park Geun-hye's case, judicial proceedings have not yet concluded."

Woo said, "There is concern that this could unintentionally acknowledge claims that the impeachment and judicial process were wrong and potentially lead to national division."

On January 2, lawmaker Ahn Min-seok also posted on Facebook, "Pardoning and reinstating Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye without acknowledging their crimes is a betrayal of the candlelight citizens," adding, "The pardon and reinstatement of Lee and Park should be decided by the people, not politicians bargaining."

Ahn further criticized Lee directly, saying, "At the start of the new year, when we should be talking about hope, the pardon itself is a regressive issue from the past, not a matter of public interest, and is rather a political engineering idea within the political sphere."

Former President Park Geun-hye [Image source=Yonhap News]

Democratic Party lawmaker Jung Chung-rae also opposed the pardon, saying, "'Is this a country?' asked the candlelight citizens who held candles, and what about them now?" He added, "The public's resentment is not yet ready to forgive them."

First-term lawmakers also expressed opposition. Kim Nam-guk wrote on Facebook, "As seen in the pardons of former Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, pardons without remorse that the public cannot accept have caused conflict and division rather than unity," and said, "This pardon discussion regresses judicial justice and goes against the candlelight public sentiment."

Kim Yong-min pointed out, "The pardon of Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak goes against the will of the people who held candles in the cold winter."

A petition opposing Lee's pardon remarks was also posted on the Blue House petition board. The petition titled "Opposition to the pardon of former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye," posted on January 1, stated, "The people oppose pardoning Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye for the victory of a specific candidate in the presidential election or the ruling of a specific party." As of the morning of January 3, the petition had surpassed 50,000 signatures.

Meanwhile, as criticism inside and outside the party over Lee's remarks on pardoning the two former presidents intensified, the Democratic Party held a Supreme Council meeting on the afternoon of January 3 to continue discussions on the matter. The meeting was attended by Lee, floor leader Kim Tae-nyeon, and Supreme Council members.

Earlier, in a media interview on January 1, Lee emphasized "national unity" as a New Year's national agenda and said, "I will recommend to President Moon Jae-in the pardon of the two former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye at an appropriate time." He added, "This year is practically the last year President Moon can work, so I thought this issue should be resolved at the right time," and said, "Regardless of support or opposition from the base, I intend to make the recommendation. The party should play a more active role going forward."

Regarding this, Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, told reporters after visiting the National Cemetery on the same day, "I have never heard of such a pardon recommendation until now. Even when I met with (Lee) last time, I did not hear about it." Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, also criticized, saying to reporters after visiting the National Cemetery, "If there is an attempt to use the pardon of former presidents for election purposes, it is unacceptable."

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