If Unable to Regain Power, 'Political Retirement' Also Possible... Will Lee Nak-yeon's 'Sincerity' Work? (Comprehensive)

Lee Nak-yeon Declares 'Resignation from Parliament' on the 8th... Final Card to Stop Lee Jae-myung's Dominance
"I Will Give Up My Parliamentary Seat to Protect Democratic Values and Bet Everything on Regime Re-creation"
Will the Democratic Party's Super Week on the 12th Sway Voters?

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] "I will throw everything I have to achieve regime re-creation and repay the debt owed to democracy, the Democratic Party, the Republic of Korea, Honam, and Seoul Jongno."

On the 8th, former leader and Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Nak-yeon announced his sudden resignation from the National Assembly, pledging to relinquish all vested interests to achieve regime re-creation. This is Lee’s last card after being double-scored by Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung in the party’s Chungcheong region primary votes held on the 4th and 5th.

Having served five terms as a member of the National Assembly, governor of Jeonnam Province, and prime minister, Lee’s declaration to resign his assembly seat means he intends to retire from politics if he fails in this presidential election. Therefore, the Lee Nak-yeon camp is expected to approach the remaining primary process with more determined resolve than ever. The key question is how much Lee’s sincerity will resonate. Attention is now focused on the first Super Week on the 12th, involving about 700,000 voters (results from national and general party members).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On that day, at a press conference announcing pledges for the Honam region held at the Gwangju Metropolitan Council, Lee said, "To protect the values of the Democratic Party and democracy, I have decided to give up my seat in the National Assembly and strive for regime re-creation," adding, "I will throw everything I have to achieve regime re-creation and repay the debt owed to the Democratic Party and the Republic of Korea."

He emphasized, "We must present a candidate who is not ashamed before the spirits of the May 18 Democratic Uprising," and "We must present a candidate worthy of the values of the Democratic Party and democracy." He then referred to why President Kim Dae-jung overcame numerous life-threatening crises to become president and why President Roh Moo-hyun challenged regionalism barriers despite defeat and despair. Lee said, "It was because of the value of democracy," and added, "The spirit of the Democratic Party is to pursue the values of democracy that were defended at the cost of life or with a lifelong commitment. Because the Democratic Party has upheld and pursued such a spirit, Presidents Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in, all from the Democratic Party, developed the nation and elevated its stature."

Lee also questioned, "Is the current Democratic Party presidential primary moving in a direction that well embodies that spirit?" He criticized, "How is it possible to think that the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate does not need to be moral?" and asked, "Is it acceptable that the Democratic Party and the conservative opposition party have a bizarre reality where attacks and defenses are reversed in terms of morality?"

Since Lee has taken a last stand to check Governor Lee Jae-myung’s runaway lead, the key will be how much the vote gap between the two candidates narrows in the upcoming Democratic Party primary. If Governor Lee fails to replicate the results of the recent Chungcheong region primary in the vote on the 12th, it could be judged that Lee Nak-yeon’s resignation card has been effective. If it is determined that the "runaway lead has been stopped," then a "last-minute turnaround" could be anticipated in the Honam region vote scheduled for the end of this month.

Professor Park Sang-byeong of Inha University evaluated, "Although Lee Nak-yeon’s decision was likely made to firmly demonstrate his will for regime re-creation, it would not have been an easy final decision." He added, "The significance lies in dramatically showing sincerity," but cautioned, "Whether it has the power to overturn the currently large gap in approval ratings remains to be seen."

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