In the End, Lee Jae-myung Runs for Office, Facing 'Judicial Risks and Presidential Election Responsibility' After Candidacy

Ongoing Party Concerns "At Least One Year of Investigation Response"
Outside the Party, Expect Political Scrutiny and Ruling Party Checks
Plan to Overcome with 'Integrated Innovation' Approach

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Lee Jae-myung, a leading candidate for the Democratic Party leadership, will announce his candidacy on the 17th. Amid growing concerns both inside and outside the party regarding judicial risks and election accountability, he is expected to face various obstacles that must be overcome immediately upon declaring his run.

How to Overcome Judicial Risks

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The various corruption allegations surrounding Lee are the biggest concern within the party. Recently, the prosecution reportedly conducted a search and seizure at the Ssangbangwool Group headquarters in connection with suspicions of Lee’s 'lawyer fee payment on behalf.' As the Yoon Seok-yeol administration enters its early term amid a 'purge atmosphere,' there is increasing analysis that investigations targeting Lee are becoming more likely.

Not only competing candidates for party leader but also lawmakers within the party have demanded Lee to refrain from running for these reasons. A second-term lawmaker pointed out, "If Lee runs, the entire party could be put at risk," adding, "At a time when innovation is needed, there is a high possibility that he will have to respond to investigations for at least a year."

Competing candidates from the '97 Group' have also targeted Lee’s judicial risks. On the 14th, Park Yong-jin criticized at a Gwangju City Council meeting, saying, "There are openly circulating remarks about a shield candidacy and judicial risks." Kang Byung-won also warned in a YTN interview on the 13th, "Judicial risks should not hinder our party’s efforts to take care of people’s livelihoods."

If Lee runs, it is expected that the ruling party’s offensive will intensify. On the 15th, Heo Eun-ah, the senior spokesperson for the People Power Party, criticized in a statement, "It is an ironic situation that on a national holiday commemorating the adoption and proclamation of the Republic of Korea’s constitution based on liberal democracy, Lee, who is at the center of numerous power-related crime allegations, announces his candidacy." Lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun also wrote on Facebook, "While I preemptively congratulate 'Shield Leader' Lee on his election, it is regrettable that the judicial risks surrounding him will ultimately become risks for the Democratic Party."

Democratic Party Without Innovation, Accountability Issues Holding It Back

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Criticism remains that if Lee becomes party leader, the party will fail to show innovation. This is partly because he is held responsible for consecutive defeats in the presidential and local elections after being a presidential candidate. The fact that 'pro-Moon Jae-in senior members,' who were strong contenders, declared they would not run, and the '97 Group' stepped forward as candidates, reflects the demand for new faces.

However, Lee, who has already solidified his intention to run, is reportedly planning a 'unified innovation' strategy. The aim is to narrow the gap between the party, party members, and public sentiment, and to show unity beyond factional lines within the party.

Regarding judicial risks, Lee is also expected to choose a 'direct breakthrough' approach. A person close to Lee said, "There will be attacks from both inside and outside the party, and how to overcome them is a future challenge," adding, "It won’t be easy, but if he overcomes this well, it will also benefit him."

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