Break the Range-Bound Approval Ratings... Lee Hae-chan Steps Up, Yang Jeong-cheol Warms Up

Lee Prepares Meeting as Rival to Kim Jong-in
Former Prime Minister Jeong Expected to Attend

Yang Former Director Seen as Key Brain
Decision Needed to Include 'Moon's People'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Koo Chae-eun and Jeon Jin-young] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, is preparing to meet with former party leader Lee Hae-chan. As the need to improve the election campaign committee has been raised, this is interpreted as a move to respond to the opposing side’s ‘Kim Jong-in’s involvement.’ Yang Jung-chul, former head of the Democratic Research Institute, who is considered another key rescuer, has also started preparing to join the campaign committee.

According to ruling party sources on the 17th, Lee is expected to meet with former leader Lee soon. It is also anticipated that former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun may attend the meeting. Since Lee has expressed dissatisfaction that the campaign committee is large but lacks agility and field presence, it is expected that he will discuss solutions with former leader Lee. There is also interest in whether he will request a direct role in the campaign committee beyond just advice. Former leader Lee has been mentioned as the only figure within the ruling party who can counter former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in, whose joining the People Power Party’s campaign committee is considered a foregone conclusion.

Currently, the campaign committee’s public relations team denies reports of a ‘meeting on the 17th’ with former leader Lee but acknowledges that the meeting is being pursued. Kwon Hyuk-ki, deputy head of the campaign committee’s public relations team, told reporters, "There is no schedule to meet former leader Lee today. However, we may meet later."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Yang, known as a strategist for the ruling party, will visit the National Assembly today at the invitation of the Democratic Party’s recruited talents and proportional representation lawmakers’ group. Although it is in the form of a ‘private briefing invitation,’ it is significant politically as the reclusive strategist is appearing in an official capacity for the first time in 1 year and 7 months since the April 15 general election. Using this National Assembly visit as an opportunity, it is widely expected that he will strengthen his presence within the ‘Lee Jae-myung campaign committee,’ which is centered on the lawmakers’ group, and serve as a ‘key brain’ to bridge the gap between the candidate and the lawmakers.

The reason why the ‘rescuer theory’ of former leader Lee and Yang is gaining traction is that criticism has been mounting that the campaign committee became bureaucratic and oversized right after the general election. Ko Yong-jin, senior spokesperson of the campaign committee’s public relations team, told reporters after the campaign committee’s general headquarters meeting held at the National Assembly this morning, "We painfully accept the criticism from first-term lawmakers and various sectors that the existing lawmaker-centered campaign committee is insufficient," adding, "There was consensus at today’s meeting that we should actively pursue the recruitment of external personnel." Ko said, "All members will do their best to recruit personnel and create necessary committees to supplement the campaign committee’s shortcomings," and added, "Please give us time and wait, and we will ensure the campaign committee achieves results in various ways."

However, Yang’s ‘role theory’ is a complex issue involving coordination of opinions with the Gyeonggi-Seongnam line that has long supported Lee, the Seven Group, expert groups, and the distribution of functions within the campaign committee, so Lee’s decision will play an important role. There is also a view that Yang’s strong association as a ‘person of Moon (Jae-in)’ could be an obstacle to expanding the party’s base.

How much the senior lawmakers’ group, which emphasizes ‘one team,’ will be persuaded by this awareness of the problem is also crucial. Lee Sang-min, a senior lawmaker who serves as co-chairman of the campaign committee, said in a radio interview this morning about the ‘campaign committee reform theory,’ "It is natural to make efforts to correct what is wrong," but added, "Using external personnel recruitment as a substitute rather than a complement is inappropriate. If we start looking outward, it will be difficult for our own capabilities to grow." Lee expressed a cautious view, saying, "It will take time and effort to achieve a melting pot campaign committee," and "If we become impatient, it could rather ruin the work."

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