DJ Myoyeok Visited by Lee Nak-yeon... When Will the Meeting with Lee Jae-myung Take Place?

Subtle Tensions Between Chin Nak and Chin Myung Factions
Yoon Young-chan "Will Meet When the Time Is Right"
Jung Sung-ho "Need to Meet Soon to Support the Leader"

Attention is focused on the political activities of former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, who officially began his political activities last month by paying respects at the grave of the late former President Kim Dae-jung on the 28th. In particular, the biggest political question is when former leader Lee Nak-yeon will meet with leader Lee Jae-myung.

It is reported that Lee Jae-myung proposed a meeting by phone after former leader Lee Nak-yeon returned from the United States on the 24th of last month. However, no specific meeting schedule has been set yet. Regarding his future plans, former leader Lee Nak-yeon briefly said, "I will first pay respects where I need to."

Pro-Lee Nak-yeon faction lawmaker Yoon Young-chan stated on MBC's 'News Outside Focus,' "Since Lee Jae-myung called and said he wanted to meet, I think they will probably meet at the necessary time."

It is known that former leader Lee Nak-yeon plans to soon pay respects at the grave of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun in Bongha Village, Gimhae, Gyeongnam, and visit former President Moon Jae-in in Pyeongsan Village, Yangsan.

Former leader of the Democratic Party Lee Nak-yeon (center) visited the grave of the late former President Kim Dae-jung at the National Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 28th, paying respects and conversing with Representative Seol Hoon (left) and Representative Yoon Young-chan. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Within the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction, there have been calls for former leader Lee Nak-yeon to meet with Lee Jae-myung as soon as possible. On the 29th of last month, lawmaker Jung Sung-ho said in an MBC radio interview, "The Democratic Party is currently in a serious crisis. Ultimately, it would be good if he meets with leader Lee Jae-myung soon and supports the opposition party to unite and consolidate under the leader to overcome the situation where the Yoon Seok-youl administration is pressuring the opposition using the prosecution and the Board of Audit and Inspection."

Jung added, "Among party members, there are quite a few who cherish former leader Lee Nak-yeon and hope he will play a role. I hope that role will promote unity, not division, and help unify Democratic Party lawmakers and supporters for victory in next year's general election."

The need for unity to win the general election is also agreed upon by the pro-Lee Nak-yeon faction. Lawmaker Yoon Young-chan said, "The Democratic Party is in crisis, it must innovate, and through that innovation, it must judge the Yoon Seok-youl administration in next year's general election. No one denies these three points, and if the Democratic Party can follow this path, former leader Lee Nak-yeon will definitely participate and join in that path."

However, tensions between the pro-Lee Nak-yeon and pro-Lee Jae-myung factions are also sensed regarding former leader Lee Nak-yeon's post-return activities. The pro-Lee Nak-yeon faction expressed discomfort over attacks from Lee Jae-myung's hardline supporters directed at former leader Lee Nak-yeon.

Former lawmaker Shin Kyung-min, from the pro-Lee Nak-yeon faction, said on MBC radio on the 26th of last month, "Lee Jae-myung considers former leader Lee Nak-yeon his biggest rival and I don't think he is innocent in demonizing Lee Nak-yeon. The logic that the defeat to candidate Yoon Seok-youl and ultimately the responsibility for the presidential election loss lies with Lee Nak-yeon has been expanding for over a year centered on the 'Gaeddal' (Lee Jae-myung's hardline supporters)."

However, lawmaker Jung Sung-ho rebutted, "I don't understand who exactly is demonizing former leader Lee Nak-yeon." Jung said, "There were many things during the (presidential) primary process, but that is in the past," adding, "it is not appropriate to bring up now who was responsible or not at that time."

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