"Handshake After Long Delay"... Lee Raekyung Controversy, 3 Things Lee Jae-myung Lost

After Lee Raekyung's Appointment as Innovation Committee Chair
Doubts Over Innovation Ability, Sincerity, and Vision
Leadership at Risk if New Innovation Chair Appointment Fails

After long deliberation (長考), a bad move (惡手). This is one of the most frequently mentioned assessments regarding the series of events in which Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, appointed Lee Rae-gyeong, a century-old honorary chairman unfamiliar to the general public, as the head of an innovation organization, and then Lee voluntarily resigned amid controversies such as the 'Cheonan ship self-destruction remarks.' Due to this controversy, which is regarded as a personnel disaster, Lee suffered significant political damage. This controversy put Lee’s ability to present a vision for victory in next year’s general election to the test and increased doubts about the sincerity of party unity.

On the 7th, the Democratic Party was in turmoil all day as if a beehive had been disturbed due to the controversy over Lee Rae-gyeong’s appointment. This was because calls for Lee’s resignation were publicly expressed in relation to the controversy.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 7th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Lee’s side also deeply felt responsibility for this controversy. At the National Assembly on the same day, Lee Jae-myung told reporters, "As the party leader holds authority, whether or not internal discussions were sufficient, it is a matter that should be fully discussed," adding, "The party leader must take unlimited responsibility for the outcome." Kim Young-jin, chief of Lee’s political coordination office and a Democratic Party lawmaker, appeared on YTN radio and apologized, saying, "I regret that the situation turned out this way and that we should have prepared more calmly and prudently, but it did not proceed that way, so I feel sorry."

The appointment of the head of the innovation organization was considered a card that could significantly change the situation for Lee. After Park Kwang-on was elected as the new floor leader, the Democratic Party prepared a reform party meeting to respond to controversies such as the ‘money envelope party convention.’ However, just before the reform party meeting on the 14th of last month, allegations of cryptocurrency involvement by lawmaker Kim Nam-guk, who had left the Democratic Party, surfaced, turning the reform meeting into a session of criticism against the leadership. At that time, the leadership proposed creating a new innovation organization within the party as a kind of political breakthrough.

However, the breakthrough ultimately backfired. About three weeks after promising to establish the innovation organization, Lee suddenly announced Lee Rae-gyeong as its head, but due to ongoing controversies over Lee Rae-gyeong’s past remarks such as ‘Cheonan ship self-destruction’ and ‘the origin of COVID-19 points to the United States,’ Lee voluntarily resigned just nine hours after the appointment announcement.

The first loss Lee Jae-myung faced... Leadership of innovation

In political circles, it is pointed out that Lee may lose the ability to lead innovation within the party due to this controversy. Doubts have grown about whether Lee can overcome this series of incidents. On the same day, Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Sang-min said in a KBS radio interview, "With the innovation committee starting off like this, can it really exercise proper authority and leadership?" The innovation committee, which was granted full authority by the party leader, ultimately depends on the political leadership of the party leader, but Lee faced opposition both inside and outside the party amid the controversy.

Lawmaker Lee, who had called for Lee’s resignation, criticized the appointment controversy, saying, "The leader bears great responsibility, and this is not about asking him to resign, but Lee already started with a judicial risk as a flaw, and afterward, there were very inappropriate responses to the money envelope incident and the cryptocurrency issue involving his close aide Kim Nam-guk, which shows his limitations." Regarding the appointment of Lee Rae-gyeong, he said, "No matter how much you try to form an innovation committee, as revealed this time, wouldn’t you appoint people biased toward your own side? If that happens, can it really be innovation? It’s just strengthening your own faction." This means Lee has already lost trust assets due to the controversy over Lee Rae-gyeong’s appointment.

The second loss Lee Jae-myung faced... Growing doubts about the sincerity of innovation

Questions about the sincerity of the innovation organization and the appointments have also increased. The fact that Lee appointed Lee Rae-gyeong, who was favorable to him, means that Lee might be an exception to the direction in which the innovation sword is pointed at the party. Lawmaker Lee said, "If you truly want to innovate the party and abandon selfish interests, with a spirit of putting the party before oneself, you should have appointed someone who could also wield the sword against yourself, whether as the innovation committee chair or the emergency committee chair."

Going forward, Lee must present a different card for the next appointment. At the very least, the innovation committee should be composed to check Lee and include voices different from the mainstream faction called ‘pro-Lee.’ The question is who will take on this role. Inside the Democratic Party, the background behind this personnel controversy was attributed to a shortage of personnel. Many recommended as saviors for the Democratic Party declined. Moreover, the controversy surrounding Lee Rae-gyeong may deepen the personnel shortage. Furthermore, given the party’s predicament due to its hardline support base, it is questionable whether the political space for an innovation committee chair who points a sword at Lee will be allowed.

The third loss Lee Jae-myung faced... Vision for victory in next year’s general election

The bigger problem is Lee’s perception revealed through this appointment. Inside the Democratic Party, a centrist strategy has been suggested as a solution for next year’s general election. However, the card Lee played through Lee Rae-gyeong was rallying the support base.

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Jong-min said in an SBS radio interview, "Looking at the appointment of the innovation committee chair, it seems Lee thinks innovation means strengthening the fandom support base that supports Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party under his leadership," adding, "This may strengthen the support of the hardline base, but it is hard to expect support from the general public, centrists, and a broader range of citizens."

Kim said, "Lee really needs to make a serious decision. Talking about the innovation committee now is about hoping that ‘there is a way to change even while keeping the Lee Jae-myung leadership system as it is,’ and that’s why the innovation committee is being considered," adding, "He needs to change his thinking accordingly." Kim warned, "If he continues to go only with the hardline support base and thinks public opinion, popular sentiment, and centrist expansion are unimportant, there will be a major change within the Democratic Party."

Kim Bong-shin, CEO of Metavoice, said, "This personnel controversy revealed Lee’s leadership crisis," and "He was an innovation committee chair for nine hours who proved the real need for innovation within the Democratic Party." Regarding future repercussions, Kim said, "The next innovation committee chair appointment will be crucial," adding, "The party lost the opportunity to show its will for reform this time, so next time, they must use a card that can show that."

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