At the Democratic Party's Off-Site Debate, "Lee's Responsibility Argument is Cowardly... Party Members Support Lee Jae-myung's Candidacy"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] At an off-site debate of the Democratic Party of Korea, there was an argument that the responsibility for the election defeat should not be placed on Standing Adviser Lee Jae-myung to block his bid for party leadership. It was analyzed that many party members supported his candidacy for the party convention. While the debate among first- and second-term Democratic Party lawmakers raised the 'Lee Jae-myung responsibility theory' regarding the election defeat, the off-site members expressed the opposite opinion.

Professor Kim Jun-hyuk of Hanshin University said at the 'Presidential and Local Election Evaluation Debate' hosted by the Democratic Party Off-site Regional Chairpersons Council on the 21st, "I cannot agree with the election evaluation that blames Adviser Lee Jae-myung's mistakes," adding, "There were problems in the election dynamics caused by the Moon Jae-in administration's personnel appointments and real estate issues."

Lawyer Noh Young-hee also said, "The biggest culprit was internal division. It would have been better if the side of former Representative Lee Nak-yeon had shown reflection and remorse regarding the aftermath of the primary election," and Yoon Jong-gun, Chairperson of the Ansan City Committee, said, "It is a burden that everyone must bear, and shifting responsibility to a specific person is cowardly."

Director Ahn Jin-geol of the People's Livelihood Economy Research Institute said, "While there is some logic in pointing fingers at Adviser Lee Jae-myung or former Representative Song Young-gil, it does not look good," and added, "It is more accurate to see the worsening public sentiment and livelihood as the main causes." Park Si-young, CEO of Winzi Korea Consulting, said, "There is strong support among party members and supporters for Lee Jae-myung's candidacy (for the party convention)," and "Some believe that without Adviser Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party cannot perform well."

There was also an opinion that the existing rule for selecting the next leadership at the party convention?'45% lawmakers, 40% party members with voting rights, 10% general public opinion poll, 5% general party members opinion poll'?should be changed.

Professor Kim Jun-hyuk said, "We should accept the proposal previously suggested by the Party Innovation Promotion Committee, which is '20% delegates, 45% party members with voting rights, 5% general party members, and 30% public opinion,'" and added, "We should not block the candidacy of specific individuals or change to a collective leadership system that goes against the opinions of party members." Professor Choi Jin-bong of Sungkonghoe University said, "The rules need to be changed. Currently, it is worse and more backward than the People Power Party," and evaluated, "The collective leadership system is just factional division of spoils."

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