Lee Jae-myung Calls for 'Minsheng' Again... Denies 'Judicial Risk' Allegations Within the Party

Lee Jae-myung Resumes On-Site Visits
Some View It as 'Moves Aimed at the General Election'
No Statement Yet on Investigation

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has once again emphasized his focus on livelihood issues. This move is analyzed as a strategy to dispel various judicial suspicions surrounding him while preparing for the upcoming general election.

On the 13th, Lee began his "Listening Tour Among the People" starting in Cheonan, Chungnam. On that day, he visited the livelihood site at Cheonan Jungang Market and then went to Daejeon in the evening to hold a "Visiting People's Report Meeting." On the 14th, he held an on-site Supreme Council meeting in Sejong and then visited the SK Hynix factory in Cheongju, Chungbuk, and Chungbuk National University in the afternoon.

During the regular National Assembly session, Lee minimized regional tours, but now plans to travel nationwide every week to increase contact points with citizens and party members.

He continuously emphasized "livelihood" even on-site. While touring Cheonan Jungang Market and meeting citizens, he said, "What is the government doing now?" and pointed out, "The reason we are struggling is because, although a few are happy, the majority are unhappy due to inequality gaps and polarization." He also stressed that the government budget is a budget for "super-rich tax cuts." He said, "Why cut corporate taxes for large corporations with operating profits exceeding 300 billion won?" and added, "The government's role is to ensure that the strong do not recklessly prey on the weak and that the many weak do not suffer, living together through the principle of 'eokgangbuyak' (supporting the weak and restraining the strong)."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the on-site Supreme Council meeting in Sejong that day, he emphasized, "Our Democratic Party will spare no support to make Sejong City a true administrative capital," and added, "Especially regarding the National Assembly Sejong Chamber and the Presidential Sejong Office, we will ensure that the project costs are significantly reflected in next year's budget."

His recent emphasis on "tax cuts for ordinary people" while advocating for budget reductions is interpreted in this context. At the party's Supreme Council meeting on the 12th, he stated, "Due to legal restrictions, we cannot increase expenditure budgets for ordinary people, but we will implement tax cuts for the lower and middle classes in related subsidiary budget bills."

This move is also analyzed as preparation to dispel suspicions outside the party and to prepare for the next general election. Lee Kwang-jae, Secretary-General of the Korea Manifesto Practice Headquarters, said, "Regardless of the party's situation, it is highly likely that he is moving to influence his own election," and added, "Both Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice from the ruling party, and Lee from the opposition are seeing the possibility that their political positioning can be firmly established."

However, criticism arises that focusing only on activities outside the party while judicial risks related to Lee still act as a crisis factor for the party. On the 9th, Jeong Jin-sang, chief political coordinator of the party leader's office and a close aide to Lee, was indicted by the prosecution on charges including bribery under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes related to the Daejang-dong corruption allegations.

Senior Democratic Party lawmaker Roh Woong-rae also had a pre-arrest warrant requested by the prosecution on the 12th on charges including bribery.

Meanwhile, on the 5th, marking his 100th day in office, Lee emphasized livelihood issues without making any special statements such as a press conference. A party leadership official related to this said, "A New Year's meeting is being planned, but nothing has been confirmed yet."

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