"Response by Lee Jae-myung"... Lee Nak-yeon and Park Ji-hyun's Resignation Petition Reply

"Lee Appeals for Harmony and Unity, Asks for Leniency"
Lee Jae-myung Criticizes 'Gaeddal' Collective Action... Focuses on Resolving Internal Conflict

The Democratic Party has responded to a petition demanding the permanent expulsion and removal from the party of former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon and former Co-Chair of the Emergency Response Committee Park Ji-hyun. The party urged, "We ask party members and comrades to deeply consider Representative Lee Jae-myung's appeal for unity and harmony within our party."

On the 16th, Democratic Party Secretary-General Jo Jung-sik responded to the petition regarding former Prime Minister Lee and former Co-Chair Park. He stated, "Representative Lee Jae-myung has already expressed his position through a YouTube live broadcast (March 14) and Facebook (March 15)," adding, "We will refer to Representative Lee Jae-myung's Facebook message."

Previously, the Democratic Party, especially the hardline supporters of Representative Lee Jae-myung known as 'Gaeddal,' continued their 'Protect Lee Jae-myung' campaign as his position within the party was shaken due to the rejection of the arrest consent motion. The petition demanding the removal from the party of former Prime Minister Lee and former Co-Chair Park is also in the same context.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Former Co-Chair Park Ji-hyun, upon the issuance of a warrant against Representative Lee on the 16th of last month, stated on Facebook that if the arrest consent motion was rejected, the Democratic Party would be criticized as a 'Lee Jae-myung shield party,' and advocated for the approval of the arrest consent motion. Hardline supporters of the Democratic Party viewed this as an attack on Representative Lee and heavily criticized former Co-Chair Park.

After a large number of defections appeared in the vote on the arrest consent motion for Representative Lee, the hardline supporters then turned their sharp gaze toward former Prime Minister Lee. On the 28th, a petitioner who submitted a request for the permanent expulsion of former Prime Minister Lee to the Democratic Party's National Response Center called him a 'seed of division.'

The petitioner said, "(Regarding the vote on the arrest consent motion) it is not an exaggeration to say that former Representative Lee Nak-yeon orchestrated the rebellion votes within the Democratic Party," adding, "The fact that a detention warrant was requested for Representative Lee Jae-myung and shortly thereafter former Representative Lee Nak-yeon's return and his recent status were reported in the media is very significant."

As the collective actions of the hardline supporters continued, Representative Lee emphasized party unity and urged restraint. He appears to be focusing on resolving internal conflicts. During a conversation with party members via YouTube live on the 14th, he stressed, "We must reduce divisions and conflicts within us as much as possible and unite our strength for victory in next year's general election and a better future for the Republic of Korea."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (left), and former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On the 15th, he criticized the hardline supporters' collective actions such as 'text bombings' and 'truck protests' on Facebook. Representative Lee said, "'Why do you think differently from me?' If you try to root out, shame, and attack others, it may feel satisfying immediately, but it causes great harm not only to the Democratic Party but to the entire democratic camp," adding, "It's like throwing a bomb inside the house."

He continued, "The actions of posting aggressive messages on electronic billboard trucks in front of some lawmakers' offices are the same," and appealed repeatedly, "Internal attacks are the greatest risk. Please immediately stop all acts of disparaging and attacking our comrades who should be fighting together."

The Democratic Party also announced that it will file a criminal complaint against those who produced and distributed the 'Watermelon Seven Traitors' poster. The 'Watermelon Seven Traitors' poster included former President Moon Jae-in, former Prime Minister Lee, and seven non-Lee Jae-myung faction lawmakers (Kang Byung-won, Lee Won-wook, Yoon Young-chan, Kim Jong-min, Lee Sang-min). The poster contained the message "Let's punish the spies of the People Power Party" and even listed some individuals' personal mobile phone numbers.

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