‘Return of Lee Nak-yeon’ Stirring the Opposition... Inside the Rivalry Between Pro-Myeong and Pro-Nak Factions

Opposition Party Focuses on Lee Nak-yeon's Role
Pro-Myeong and Pro-Nak Factions Avoid Direct Clash
Strategic Moves to Evade Responsibility for Factional Conflict

Since the return of former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, changes in the internal power dynamics of the party have been detected. The pro-Lee Nak-yeon faction is expanding the former leader's political maneuvering space by exploiting the weaknesses of Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung.

Regarding former lawmaker Shin Kyung-min's statement on the 26th that “we do not believe (Leader Lee) is innocent of the 'demonization of Lee Nak-yeon,'” the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction is showing discomfort. The so-called ‘Gaeddal’ controversy, known among the Democratic Party's hardcore supporters, is a weak link for Leader Lee. This is a point criticized not only by the ruling party but also within the opposition.

The reason the pro-Lee Nak-yeon faction highlights the Gaeddal issue is that it is perceived as the source of opposition to Lee Nak-yeon. However, even the pro-Lee Nak-yeon side seems to avoid direct confrontation with Leader Lee. If internal party strife intensifies immediately after the former leader's return, he could be seen as responsible for provoking factional conflict. The problem is that the former leader does not have much time.

Former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Lee Nak-yeon, who completed a one-year study abroad in the United States, is speaking to supporters after returning to Korea through Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of the 24th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Former Leader Lee played a crucial role in the April 15, 2020, 21st general election, where the Democratic Party won 180 seats. Although he was not the party leader at the time, he led the election as the standing election committee chairman. He personally ran in the high-profile Seoul Jongno district and defeated Hwang Kyo-ahn, then leader of the United Future Party. By winning Jongno and leading the party to a sweeping victory, his political stock soared vertically.

However, after losing to Leader Lee in the party's presidential race, the former leader had no choice but to take a political breather in the United States. He now faces the challenge of replicating the glory of 2020 in the upcoming 22nd general election scheduled for April next year. For someone dreaming of the 2027 presidential election, next year's general election is a critical turning point.

While there is a need to hasten the transition to a dual leadership system between Lee Jae-myung and Lee Nak-yeon, there is concern that pushing too hard in the process could result in political responsibility falling on him. Relatedly, former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae appeared on YTN Radio’s ‘News King with Park Ji-hoon’ on the 27th and fired a direct shot at the former leader, saying, “Reflection must come first. What is this now, being too cautious, too serious, and timid about opinion polls?”

Former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Lee Nak-yeon (left), is seeing off Lee Jae-myung, the current leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, after paying respects at the funeral hall set up for his father-in-law on the afternoon of April 9 at Samsung Seoul Hospital in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

From the pro-Lee Nak-yeon faction’s perspective, they must consider both offense and defense. The wider the former leader’s range of activities, the higher the level of checks and balances may become.

Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Young-chan, who is pro-Lee Nak-yeon, said, “Beyond simply being the head of a faction or a non-Lee Jae-myung faction, the focus will be on what direction will truly make the Democratic Party succeed and how to achieve that.” This implies preparing for the future from the standpoint of a national leader.

The pro-Lee Jae-myung faction is also concerned that direct confrontation could increase Leader Lee’s political burden. If internal party strife grows while the party accelerates its opposition to the ruling party centered on Leader Lee, political leadership could inevitably be shaken. There is also a subtle current within the ruling party that quietly hopes for increased factional conflict within the opposition. Although the pro-Lee Jae-myung and pro-Lee Nak-yeon factions are exchanging checks, the fact that they have not shifted to an all-out offensive mode is not unrelated to this political situation.

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