Internal Conflict Arises 'Squeak' as Yeo Primary Race Begins

Schedule Postponed for First Round
Controversy Over Kim Kyung-yul's Recruitment and Withdrawal
Conflict Deepens in 'National Interview'

Jung Sye-kyun: "Not Displeasure but Humiliation"
Leadership Apology and Planning Team Resignation Demanded
Lee Nak-yeon: "Extremely Inappropriate" Backlash

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] The preliminary presidential primary election, which the Democratic Party of Korea has been carefully preparing for a ‘blockbuster’ event, is already faltering from the start due to internal party conflicts. The confrontation between the ‘Lee Jae-myung faction’ and the ‘non-Lee Jae-myung faction,’ which had already clashed over the postponement of the primary schedule, seems to have deepened emotional rifts over the newly planned ‘National Interview’ style primary. Moreover, the non-Lee Jae-myung candidates, who had previously accepted the party leadership’s decision to postpone the primary magnanimously, are now all voicing their anger without any retreat, drawing attention.

Lee Nak-yeon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Policy Cooperation Meeting of the Welfare State Practice Solidarity held at the Irum Center in Yeouido, Seoul on the 2nd. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

On the 2nd, former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun demanded an apology from the party leadership and the resignation of the entire primary planning committee after the presidential primary planning team first recruited accountant Kim Kyung-yul as a national interviewer but then reversed the decision the day before. On the radio, former PM Chung said, "If you assign candidate interviews to someone who has taken an anti-government stance, it is not just unpleasant but humiliating." The presidential primary planning team had set the primary concept as ‘presidential job seekers’ and planned for candidates to be interviewed by three national interviewers. They selected accountant Kim, co-author of the ‘Cho Kuk Black Book,’ as an interviewer. However, after internal backlash, they withdrew the decision within about two hours and replaced him with former lawmaker Yoo In-tae.

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon also continued his opposition for the second day. On the morning of the same day, Lee pointed out, "It is right to listen to harsh criticism from outside, but having to be judged by someone who caused conflict with false claims was highly inappropriate." His campaign raised the tone further by targeting rival Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung. Lee’s campaign stated in a press release, "We want to ask Candidate Lee: Do you really consider accountant Kim’s remarks as the ‘people’s perspective’?" Earlier, Lee Jae-myung had evaluated, "It is a good idea to verify candidates through the eyes of citizens with critical views."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The ‘intense reactions’ from presidential candidates are understood to be a resurgence of resentment that had reluctantly accepted the party’s decision to proceed with the primary. Former PM Chung expressed discomfort, saying, "So far, the party’s primary operation has been hasty and biased. Looking at what the primary planning team has done so far, they have not done it properly, and there is little chance they will do so in the future." Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae also indirectly criticized by conveying party members’ sentiments. She said, "There are many reactions from Democratic Party supporters that the party is losing its soul to the absurd logic of the presidential primary planning team," adding, "I strongly sympathize."

Not only presidential candidates but also within the party, harsh criticism is pouring out, such as "This national interviewer issue is serious (Assemblyman Kim Min-seok)" and "We will work responsibly to ensure this never happens again (Supreme Council member Kim Young-bae)." Kang Hoon-sik, co-head of the presidential primary planning team, apologized on MBC Radio, saying, "It was my fault," and Kim So-yeon, CEO of Newnik, who was originally appointed as a national interviewer, also expressed her intention to resign due to personal reasons.

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