"If This Happens, Both Will Die"... Voices Within the Party Urging 'Myeong-Nak Meeting'

The meeting between Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and former party leader Lee Nak-yeon, so-called the 'Myeong-Nak meeting,' has failed twice, raising concerns within the party. Amid pessimism that the meeting may never take place, voices urging a swift meeting argue that if the two do not meet, they are bound to lose in the general election.

Both scheduled Myeong-Nak meetings on the 11th and 19th were canceled due to heavy rain, and as of the 24th, there has been no news of a new date being set in political circles. Yoon Young-chan, a Democratic Party lawmaker affiliated with the pro-Lee Nak-yeon faction, hinted on MBC Radio on the 20th, saying, "This time, we will not set a date but will meet on a truly suitable day," indicating that no specific date would be fixed for the meeting.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, with two failed attempts, concerns are growing in political circles that the meeting might not happen at all. Seol Joo-wan, vice chairman of the Democratic Party's Legal Committee, said on the KBC current affairs talk show 'Choncheol Salin' on the 21st, "As Lee Jae-myung's judicial risks increase, it has become harder for them to meet," adding, "If they meet now, it could cause further misunderstandings. If Lee is detained, there might be a misconception that former leader Lee Nak-yeon is replacing him."

Previously, Lee Hwa-young, former Deputy Governor for Peace of Gyeonggi Province, reversed her statement regarding reporting to then-Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung about Kim Seong-tae, former chairman of Ssangbangwool, and his alleged remittances to North Korea, bringing Lee Jae-myung's judicial risks to the surface. There is also speculation that a motion to arrest Lee Jae-myung could be sent to the next extraordinary session of the National Assembly. In this context, a meeting between the two Lees could spark political speculation, making the meeting even more difficult.

Moon Hee-sang, a senior figure in the Democratic Party and former Speaker of the National Assembly, has called for a swift meeting. On KBS's 'Joo Jin-woo Live,' he said, "If the two former leaders do not talk and overcome this situation, they will fail in the next general election," adding, "If they fail in the general election, it will be like two people on a sinking ship fighting to be captain and both dying."

He referred to the idiom Dongju Gongje (同舟共濟), meaning "crossing a river in the same boat," saying, "If the goal is the next general election, they must do everything possible to succeed," and warned, "They must have the resolve of 'sa-juk-saeng' (dying to live) where each is willing to die first. Otherwise, they cannot survive."

He continued, "There is only one path, a dead end. They must go together as if by fate. Dongju Gongje," and predicted that a meeting would take place soon, saying, "I think the moment of such a decisive decision is coming as time passes."

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