Lee Nak-yeon 'Touched the Pro-Moon Faction's Achilles' Heel'... 'Impeachment of the Leader' Movement Also Emerges [Han Seung-gon's Political Notebook]

Aftermath of 'Surrender Theory' Intensifies... 'Pro-Moon' Faction Demands "Impeachment of Lee Nak-yeon"
Yoon Seok-yeol Denies Impeachment Talk Amid 'Lee Myung-bak & Park Geun-hye' Former Presidents' Pardon Debate

On the 3rd, Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is leaving his office at the National Assembly Members' Office Building after a closed-door Supreme Council meeting regarding the pardons of former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has not retracted his remarks on the pardon of former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, drawing fierce criticism day after day from the 'Pro-Moon' (친문) faction and 'Moonbba' (a derogatory term for people who blindly support President Moon Jae-in).

Currently, Lee has also drawn a line against the impeachment theory of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, alongside the pardon theory. Both claims are vehemently opposed by the Pro-Moon faction.

The Pro-Moon faction supports the political philosophy of President Moon Jae-in and is the core support base of the current administration, including President Moon himself. Lee, who served as Prime Minister under the Moon administration, also receives strong support from the Pro-Moon faction.

However, as Lee brought up the so-called 'pardon theory,' this support base has completely turned its back on him. There are calls to report Lee to the party's ethics committee for violations and to discipline him, and even demands to "impeach the party leader" have emerged.

Nevertheless, Lee has repeatedly refused to retract his pardon theory, leading to speculation that he may be making a political gamble against the Pro-Moon faction. This situation is seen as influenced by Lee's current position as a presidential candidate with only two months left in his term as party leader.

For Lee, expanding his appeal beyond the Pro-Moon faction to centrists is inevitable. Therefore, it is interpreted that he is trying to assert his own stance by pushing this agenda. However, the Pro-Moon faction's backlash is intense. The Pro-Moon faction had held candlelight vigils to impeach former President Park, and now they seem to be asserting the rights of those candlelight protests. This has led to criticism that Lee has touched a nerve with the Pro-Moon faction.

Candlelight vigil calling for the resignation of then-President Park Geun-hye [Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Lee Nak-yeon: "I will recommend the pardon of the two former presidents to the president at an appropriate time"

Earlier, on the 1st, Lee said in an interview with Yonhap News that the background of his pardon plan for the two former presidents was national unity. However, after fierce criticism inside and outside the party, on the 3rd, he clarified his position by saying that public consensus and the reflection of the parties involved are important. It appears that he temporarily put the pardon theory on hold due to opposition from the Pro-Moon faction and party lawmakers.

However, on the 31st of last month and on the day he addressed the controversy (the 3rd), he also stated in an interview with Hankook Ilbo, "I will recommend the pardon of the two former presidents to the president at an appropriate time." This is interpreted as Lee's intention to achieve national unity through the pardon of former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye.

In the interview with this media outlet, Lee reiterated his commitment to the pardon theory he proposed regarding the two former presidents. Regarding the timing of the pardon recommendation to President Moon, he said, "I will recommend the pardon of the two former presidents to the president at an appropriate time."

Regarding communication with President Moon, he said, "There was no communication with the Blue House," but added, "I have been somewhat able to guess the president's thoughts since I worked as prime minister."

As a former prime minister, ruling party leader, and a presidential candidate, Lee's response suggests that although there was no communication with the Blue House when planning the pardon theory, he considered President Moon's intentions. However, regarding President Moon's stance on this pardon, he repeatedly drew a line, saying, "It is difficult to comment on that."

President Moon Jae-in, Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol Photo by Yonhap News

◆ "Institutional prosecutorial reform is the party's official position"

In addition, Lee expressed a negative stance on the so-called 'impeachment theory of Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl,' which the Pro-Moon faction is actively participating in.

When asked in an interview about claims that some in the party are pushing for Yoon's impeachment, Lee replied, "The party's position is being organized. Please understand that institutional prosecutorial reform is the party's official position," firmly stating that impeachment is out of the question.

Regarding institutional prosecutorial reform, he emphasized the separation of prosecution and investigation and eliminating the possibility of prosecutorial abuse of power. He also explained that he intends to stabilize the amended Criminal Procedure Act.

◆ Pro-Moon faction urges "Resignation of Lee Nak-yeon as party leader and retirement from politics by party members"

By drawing a line against the pardon theory for the two former presidents and the impeachment theory of Prosecutor General Yoon, some Democratic Party supporters from the Pro-Moon faction have reported Lee to the party for ethics violations, claiming that his actions harm the party.

On the 3rd, a post titled "Reported Lee Nak-yeon to the Ethics Committee" was uploaded on a Pro-government online community. The author pointed out, "The person representing the party with 180 seats silenced the Supreme Council members but said himself, 'This is the path to national unity,' and tried to cover it up by saying, 'This is a heartfelt conviction I've thought about for a long time,' without consulting party members or supporters or discussing with the Blue House."

He continued, "Although he showed some retreat at today's Supreme Council meeting, people don't change easily," and explained, "I have applied for disciplinary action to the Ethics Committee." He then declared, "The majority of the public does not want the pardon of former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, and party members want Lee Nak-yeon to resign as party leader and even retire from politics." He concluded by urging, "We do not need a party leader who does not consult party members. We ask for the highest level of disciplinary action."

President Moon Jae-in (left) and Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (right) [Yonhap News file photo]

Another Democratic Party supporter said, "At this level of fallout, he should resign, not apologize," adding, "His apology is confusing as to whether it is an apology or not, and it seems he intends to keep resisting. The sense of betrayal and anger felt by hardcore supporters like me is enormous." He continued, "He has already crossed the line that could be covered by an apology. Even if he stays in his position, he will only be regarded as a figurehead," urging him to resign as party leader.

Meanwhile, the Blue House has not yet officially commented on Lee's pardon theory. However, with the Supreme Court's final appeal ruling on former President Park's 'state manipulation' case scheduled for the 14th, there is speculation that a message regarding the pardon may be issued in the future.

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