Party and Cheong urge 'One Team'... but the '86 Group Eldest Brother' has many concerns

President Moon Jae-in Congratulates Song Young-gil on Inauguration by Phone... Urges National Cooperation
Song Young-gil Inaugurated as Democratic Party Leader, Setting Party-Blue House Relations as Political Task for Election Season

[Asia Economy reporters Ryu Jeong-min and Jeon Jin-young] On the morning of the 3rd, President Moon Jae-in called Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, to congratulate him on his inauguration and to request cooperation in state affairs.

Leader Song is the head of the ruling party responsible not only for the remainder of President Moon's term but also for the next presidential election. Toward the end of a president's term, the relationship with the ruling party becomes a variable that determines the success or failure of state governance.

Past presidents have struggled to secure momentum for governance as they formed strained relationships with the ruling party toward the end of their terms. If the ruling party leadership and presidential candidates, focused on regime continuation, clash with the Blue House, the president's control over state affairs inevitably weakens.

Song Young-gil, the newly appointed leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is paying respects at the late President Park Chung-hee's grave site within the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on the 3rd. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Although the Blue House and the ruling party emphasize the importance of being a ‘one team’ in unison, as the presidential election approaches, the ‘gap’ may be exposed externally. In particular, the new ruling party leader’s ability to reset the ‘party-Blue House relationship’ could be a variable that determines political leadership. Winning against Representative Hong Young-pyo, who is distinctly ‘pro-Moon,’ reflects expectations for change and reform both inside and outside the party.

Leader Song, regarded as the eldest of the ‘86 Group,’ is evaluated as being distant from the core pro-Moon faction. The fact that the vote difference with candidate Hong Young-pyo was not large in this party leadership election is also a burden. The election of Representative Kim Yong-min, who has a clear reformist stance, as the top committee member with the highest votes is also seen as evidence of strong pro-Moon influence within the party.

After paying respects at the National Cemetery on the morning of the day, Leader Song held his first top committee meeting and said, "We will strive to reflect public sentiment through close consultation among the party, government, and Blue House." Close consultation and reflecting public sentiment can be conflicting terms. It will be a key point to watch whether Leader Song, considering his position as the ruling party leader preparing for the presidential election, can find a ‘common ground.’

Leader Song visited the grave of former President Kim Dae-jung at the National Cemetery and wrote in the guestbook the phrase ‘Minyubangbon Bonggobangnyeong’ (民惟邦本 本固邦寧), meaning that the people are the foundation of the nation, and when the foundation is solid, the nation prospers.

The view of the Blue House from Namsan, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

At his first top committee meeting after inauguration, Leader Song pledged, "We will strive to change the Democratic Party by properly accepting public sentiment." In a press conference held after the top committee meeting, he cited ‘strengthening intra-party democracy’ as the urgent reform task for the Democratic Party.

He said, "It is not a structure where they only collect the logic they like to reinforce themselves, but we must objectively listen to diverse information and make corrections so as not to be disconnected from public sentiment."

Additionally, regarding the issue of so-called ‘text bomb’ attacks by hardline supporters, Leader Song responded, "We should not define differences as wrong but respect each other's opinions and avoid causing harm," adding, "We must change the cultural atmosphere to a Democratic Party where collective intelligence is demonstrated."

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