Louder Pro-Democratic Voice... Will Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party Take a 'Hardline Drive'?

Among 5 Opposition Supreme Council Members, 4 Pro-Myeong, Daily Fierce Attacks on Yoon Government
Kim Geon-hee Special Investigation, From Han Dong-hoon's Impeachment to Calls for 'All-Member Vote' Party Charter Amendment
Ko Min-jung Criticizes "Not the Time to Discuss Such Claims"... Lee Jae-myung Remains Silent

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 31st and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Yunjin Kim] As pro-Lee Jae-myung faction lawmakers, classified as hardliners, have massively entered the Democratic Party's Supreme Council, changes are being sensed in the leadership's strategy regarding internal and external party issues. With the Supreme Council members taking the lead in the government's offensive instead of Lee Jae-myung, the party leader, attention is focused on whether the opposition party, which has changed its leadership, will adopt a hardline stance.

Among the five Supreme Council members elected at the Democratic Party's regular national delegate convention (party convention) on the 28th, except for Supreme Council member Ko Min-jung, Jeong Cheong-rae, Park Chan-dae, Seo Young-kyo, and Jang Kyung-tae are 'pro-Lee faction' lawmakers who have recently maintained a hardline position on party issues. They have raised the level of their offensive against the government by continuing clear assertions in two Supreme Council meetings and media interviews immediately after their inauguration.

The new leadership sharpened their stance against the government from the first Supreme Council meeting on the 29th. Supreme Council members Park Chan-dae, Seo Young-kyo, and Jang Kyung-tae expressed their intention to push for a special prosecutor investigation into First Lady Kim Keon-hee and hinted at the possibility of impeaching Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon and Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, putting pressure on the government. Lawmaker Seo Young-kyo fiercely attacked, saying, "(The people) demand a clear judgment as Lee Sang-min, Han Dong-hoon, Yoon core officials, Kim Keon-hee, and Kim core officials are mocking the constitution, laws, and the people. This is a more evolved state corruption than the Park Geun-hye administration."

At the second Supreme Council meeting held on the 31st, attacks on the government continued, centered on the pro-Lee faction. Supreme Council member Jeong Cheong-rae pointed out that "the law cannot punish thoughts or opinions. Wasn't President Yoon's statement during his candidacy that 'the mastermind of the Daejang-dong incident is Lee Jae-myung' dismissed because it was an expression of thoughts and opinions?" He criticized the prosecution's indictment of Lee Jae-myung during his presidential candidacy for spreading false information as "political retaliation and political oppression through an excessive indictment." Supreme Council member Jang Kyung-tae referred to the previous day's decision by the Board of Audit and Inspection to audit KBS, directly stating, "The Board of Audit and Inspection should immediately stop acting as the vanguard of the government's media control."

Contrary to the Supreme Council members' strong offensive against the government, party leader Lee Jae-myung is emphasizing livelihood and cooperation while refraining from commenting on contentious issues. In two Supreme Council meetings, he stressed 'livelihood first' and urged the government and ruling party to respond to the economic crisis. During the party convention, Lee showed a reserved attitude toward contentious issues to avoid sparking conflicts. Since he has been tasked with unification as party leader for the time being, it is expected to be difficult for him to take a hardline stance on divisive issues within the party. Some interpret this as a division of messaging between the party leader and the Supreme Council members.

Meanwhile, with the pro-Lee hardliner lawmakers entering the party leadership, internal party issues they had pushed for, such as amending the party constitution to allow 'all-member voting,' are expected to be reconsidered. Previously, the Democratic Party had attempted to establish a new party constitution elevating the vote of all party members to the highest decision-making body for major party decisions, but the amendment was rejected amid controversy over 'Lee Jae-myung's factionalization' led by the non-Lee faction. In response, Supreme Council member Park Chan-dae appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 29th, expressing his intention to re-push the party constitution amendment, saying, "We should deliberate and proceed swiftly but not hastily."

The issue of independent lawmaker Min Hyung-bae's reinstatement is also expected to arise. Min switched to independent in April to pass the 'complete prosecution reform law,' neutralizing the opposition's agenda adjustment committee and sparking controversy over 'disguised party withdrawal.' However, pro-Lee faction lawmakers, including Supreme Council member Jeong Cheong-rae, have argued that since Min sacrificed for the party, early reinstatement should be considered. Lee Jae-myung also showed a positive stance on Min's reinstatement during his candidacy for party leader, saying, "It was done because the party needed it and requested it, so it is not right to attribute it to personal responsibility." Min, whose reinstatement possibility has increased, is also being considered for a nominated Supreme Council member position representing the Honam region.

Within and outside the party, there are voices expressing concern about a backlash from the pro-Lee Supreme Council members' hardline claims. On the 30th, lawmaker Lee Won-wook criticized the hardliners' calls for a special prosecutor investigation as "the worst card," saying on YTN Radio's 'News King Park Ji-hoon' that "just as the complete prosecution reform law was a failure, they could become completely disconnected from the people and be trapped in their own league again." The only Supreme Council member classified as non-Lee faction, Ko Min-jung, emphasized at the Supreme Council meeting on the 31st that "now is not the time to discuss issues like party constitution amendments or minister impeachments but to listen to the voices of the weak who are being oppressed by the tyranny of great power," stressing that energy should not be spent on issues unrelated to people's livelihood.

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