"Lee Jae-myung Bulletproof Party? Not a Matter for the Party to Intervene"… Lee's Shaken Leadership

Active Response to Prosecutor Investigation Causes Party Rift
"Inappropriate to Shield Party Leadership"
Impact on Lee's Party Policy Momentum

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 16th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] The leadership of Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is shaking. As criticism arises within the party calling it a "Lee Jae-myung shield party" due to the prosecution's investigation into Lee's close aides, and internal opposition grows over remarks about postponing the introduction of the financial investment income tax, evaluations suggest that the strong ‘grip’ Lee initially formed over the party leadership is loosening.

This is becoming apparent as dissatisfaction is expressed over the party-level response to the prosecution's investigation targeting Lee. The Democratic Party's Countermeasures Committee Against Prosecutorial Dictatorship and Political Oppression shared media reports and Q&A materials related to the Daejang-dong scandal at a closed policy lawmakers' meeting on the 15th and explained the details to the members. However, some lawmakers reportedly criticized, asking, "Why do we need to know this?"

A second-term lawmaker said in a phone interview on the 16th, "This is not something the party should get involved in," adding, "How can the party take care of the personal life of the party leader? This is something the individual or the party leader's lawyer should handle." He also assessed, "It is not yet a situation where we can fight by presenting evidence that the prosecution's investigation is 'fabricated.' Excessive political response could alienate public sentiment."

A three-term Democratic Party lawmaker who requested anonymity also criticized, saying, "The party is now completely becoming Lee Jae-myung's personal party." Regarding the recent party-level response to the investigation, he said, "Although the prosecution's blade seems aimed at Lee, it is primarily targeting lower-ranking party officials. Circulating Q&A materials or making lawmakers study such issues is unreasonable."

Lee Sang-min also said in an interview with KBS Radio's ‘Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs’ on the same day, "The party seems to be putting too much effort into defending Kim Yong, deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute, and Jeong Jin-sang, chief political coordinator of the party leader's office." He added, "The individuals themselves should legally respond and prove their innocence, and it is inappropriate for the party leadership to step in and exert full effort to shield them."

This is a stark contrast to the atmosphere within the party immediately after Lee's election, when there was a sentiment to "trust Lee." The controversy over the party becoming a personal party and the resulting weakening of Lee's leadership is also affecting the Democratic Party's momentum in pushing forward livelihood-related legislation. Lee has been evaluated as having proactively led the party's stance and promoted various livelihood bills. Although he expressed an opinion to postpone the implementation of the financial investment income tax, some party lawmakers opposed this, insisting that the tax should be introduced as scheduled. In his public remarks at the Supreme Council meeting that day, Lee only mentioned the conversion of high-interest loans for ordinary citizens and did not address the issue of postponing the financial investment income tax.

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