Opposition, Lee Nak-yeon’s Rise, Kim Kyung-soo’s Return... Emerging 'Lee Jae-myung Alternative Theory'

Seol Hoon "Lee Nak-yeon to Return Around June Next Year"... Early Return Rumors Settled but 'Comeback Theory' Remains Ahead of General Election
Next Year’s Democratic Party Emergency Committee System, Possibility of Party Convention Emerges
Former Governor Kim Kyung-soo, 5 Months Left Until Full Release, Also Draws Attention for 'Role Within Party'
Political Activities Possible Even Without Reinstatement in Year-End Special Pardon

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] As the prosecution investigating the preferential treatment allegations in the Daejang-dong project has sharply turned its focus on Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, voices within the party are emerging that a 'Plan B' should be considered after Lee. This is why discussions about the political comeback of former leader Lee Nak-yeon, who is expected to return to Korea around the first half of next year, and former Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Kyung-soo, who is mentioned as a candidate for a special pardon at the end of this year, are increasing.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to political circles on the 16th, former leader Lee is expected to return around June next year as planned after completing his study abroad in the United States. At the end of last month, former Democratic Party lawmaker Shin Kyung-min, who served as the standing vice chairman of Lee Nak-yeon's campaign during the Democratic Party presidential primary, reported on Lee's recent status, saying, "He is preparing to return as scheduled around late June to early July next year." On the same day, pro-Lee faction lawmaker Seol Hoon appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' in the morning and said about Lee's return timing, "Since he went to the U.S. in June last year and said he would come back after one year, he will probably return around June next year."

After losing in the recent Democratic Party primary, former leader Lee supported the campaign as the general chairman of Lee Jae-myung's central election committee during the presidential election phase. Afterwards, Lee left for a one-year research fellowship at George Washington University in Washington DC after completing both the March presidential election and the June local elections.

Although early return rumors have subsided for now, the 'Lee Nak-yeon comeback theory' continues to surface whenever Lee Jae-myung's judicial risks arise, and it is still considered a valid 'alternative card' for the Democratic Party ahead of the 2024 general election. Even though Lee's think tank 'Solidarity and Coexistence' resumed activities on the 28th of last month and denied any political implications, external observers still view it as a 'non-Lee Jae-myung faction consolidation' for the same reason.

In particular, the non-Lee faction is saying that if the prosecution's investigation into Lee Jae-myung spreads as a risk to the entire party, it will be difficult to fight the next general election under the current system.

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@

On the same day, lawmaker Seol said, "Even now, (Lee Jae-myung) should step down as party leader and say that he can handle this situation alone." He added, "I think the best thing under the current conditions is to receive the public's evaluation of 'That's Lee Jae-myung' by doing so," and "That choice depends on Lee himself." He mentioned that the party could move to an emergency committee system in that case, saying, "Whoever becomes the party leader now can do it. The Democratic Party has a strong structure, so whoever among the 168 lawmakers takes the leadership can lead excellently."

Another senior lawmaker from the non-Lee faction hinted, "There could be another party convention before the general election," adding, "The timeline may be tight, but it is not impossible." A four-term lawmaker not affiliated with any specific faction said, "The prosecution's investigation net is tightening, and the end of the extraordinary session in January next year could be a turning point," adding, "It seems we cannot completely rule out the possibility of moving to an emergency committee system."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Interest is also focused on the possibility of former Governor Kim Kyung-soo's political comeback, who is recently mentioned as a candidate for President Yoon Seok-youl's year-end special pardon, for the same reasons.

Regarding Kim's political comeback, lawmaker Ko Min-jung, who said the day before, "We cannot completely rule out the possibility of his return to politics," reiterated on the same day, "Politics is not something you do just because you want to, nor do you stop just because you don't want to," emphasizing Kim's role again.

On the morning of the same day on BBS Radio's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal,' lawmaker Ko said, "I think he personally wants to rest for a while," but added, "(However) seeing how the ruling party is acting, resting is not easy; rather, I feel he is being called out repeatedly."

She agreed with lawmaker Ahn Min-seok's evaluation that if Kim, who is the rightful successor connecting Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in and currently the only next presidential candidate besides Lee Jae-myung, is released, the party will become healthier.

Ko said, "I met Kim several times in the meantime, and he has studied a lot," adding, "Politicians often have little time to agonize as they are dragged by current issues, but Kim has had a lot of time for such agonizing. So it would be good if he could play such roles."

The Ministry of Justice's Pardon Review Committee will review candidates for the year-end special pardon on the 23rd. Kim is mentioned as a candidate along with former President Lee Myung-bak and former Deputy Prime Minister Choi Kyung-hwan. The opposition criticizes the equivalence pardon between former President Lee, who still has 15 years left on his sentence, and Kim, who is scheduled for release in May next year, as inappropriate. Kim also stated in a prison letter that he "rejects a token pardon." Especially, if the 'restoration of eligibility' that restores the right to run for office is not granted in this pardon, even after release, he cannot run for elections until May 2028.

However, even in this case, while running for the general election would be difficult, there are voices that say he can still play a role within the party. Park Chan-dae, a Supreme Council member, said on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' the day before, "Since the restoration issue is still pending, there are restrictions on running for elected office, but political activities are possible depending on his choice," adding, "He has enough political influence, so I think it is possible."

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