Is the 'Myeong-Nak Meeting' for Abstinence Achievable? Democratic Party Attempts to Resolve Conflict

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, who returned after a year of studying abroad in the United States, and Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung are expected to meet as early as this week. With Lee Nak-yeon not hesitating to offer 'bitter criticism' of the party, attention is focused on whether the meeting with Lee Jae-myung will serve as a venue to reconcile factional conflicts within the party. However, since the two have differing views on the 'Lee Jae-myung leadership system,' there are many skeptical voices questioning how effective the meeting will be.

According to political circles on the 10th, both sides are expected to hold a private meeting this week.

Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate (right), is shaking hands with Lee Nak-yeon, the general election committee chairman, at the disbandment ceremony of the election committee at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 10th. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

This will be the first meeting between the two since Lee Nak-yeon returned on the 24th of last month. After returning, Lee paid respects at the graves of former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun and met with former President Moon Jae-in, conducting a sort of 'return greeting,' but he has yet to meet with Lee Jae-myung.

Within the party, evaluations of the 'Lee Jae-myung leadership system' are divided between the anti-Myung (非明) and pro-Myung (親明) factions, intensifying factional conflicts. Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Sang-min even mentioned a 'pleasant separation.' In this situation, the meeting between Lee Nak-yeon and Lee Jae-myung is expected to have the effect of reconciling factional conflicts. Former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won urged a swift meeting between the two on CBS Radio on the 8th, saying, "The greatest reform and innovation of the Democratic Party is unity. And it must become a strong Democratic Party."

However, since the returning Lee Nak-yeon has not held back from criticizing the Democratic Party, it cannot be ruled out that he may criticize Lee Jae-myung's leadership system during their meeting. Earlier this month, after paying respects at former President Kim's grave in Gwangju, Lee told reporters, "The Democratic Party must achieve innovation that meets the public's expectations," voicing criticism of the current Democratic Party system.

Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae expressed skepticism about the outcome of the meeting on the YouTube broadcast 'Maebul Show' on the 5th, saying, "Lee Jae-myung says 'even a sheet of paper is easier to lift together,' but if the directions are different when lifting the sheet, it tears," and added, "If they lift it together now, the sheet will tear," expressing doubt about the meeting's results.

Democratic Party lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon also said on KBS's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs' on the 6th, "From Lee Nak-yeon's perspective, there are fundamentally many differences in evaluating and thinking about Lee Jae-myung's one-year leadership," and added, "Meeting without narrowing those differences just to have tea and say 'let's work hard' is not very meaningful."

The pro-Lee Nak-yeon faction has taken the stance through media that "the demonization of Lee Nak-yeon by the Democratic Party's hardline supporters (Gaeddal) must stop and trust must be restored for the meeting to be possible," but the fact that Gaeddal still continues to attack Lee Nak-yeon is another reason why the meeting's effectiveness may be limited. Former lawmaker Shin Kyung-min, a pro-Lee Nak-yeon figure, expressed disappointment on YTN Radio, saying, "(Lee Nak-yeon) is being falsely accused of having ties to Shincheonji not only on social media but also on the party's bulletin board."

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