The Spark of Lee Jae-myung's Judicial Risk... Another Call for Democratic Party Split

Sangmin Lee "Jaemyung Lee Must Step Down to Prevent Bundang"
Wonsik Woo "Stop Wordplay... We Must Unite as One"
Pyung Shin "Practical Division State... Cannot Become One"

The judicial risk surrounding Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has not been resolved even after one year in office, leading to renewed calls for the party's split. Amid ongoing demands for Lee's resignation, mainly from the non-mainstream faction, some within the party have voiced that only Lee's resignation can prevent a split.

Lee Sang-min, who received a 'stern warning' from the party leadership last July for his 'pleasant breakup' remark, recently mentioned the party split again during a broadcast. On July 25, on CBS Radio's 'Park Jae-hong's One-on-One Match,' he said, "If the leader does not step down, lawmakers who think differently from him may make different decisions regarding their positions."

He added, "So-called 'Gaeddal' (Lee's supporter base) are the support base Lee commands, but many lawmakers believe it is difficult to work together as long as such a distorted fandom remains within the Democratic Party. Therefore, Lee must step down to prevent a split."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at an emergency party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 24th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The call for a Democratic Party split also came from outside the party. Lawyer Shin Pyeong posted on Facebook on June 28 an article titled 'The Possibility of a Democratic Party Split,' stating, "Korea's Democratic Party gathers under the banner of progressivism as a counter to conservatism, but within it exist two distinct political groups," diagnosing that these two groups cannot unite.

Shin explained, "One is a coalition of activist forces and the 'Lee Hae-chan kids,' a hardline faction that became 21st National Assembly members. They inherit the spirit of the late Joseon loyalist faction, adopt a firm stance of external rejection, and advocate pro-China and pro-North Korea positions," adding, "their ideological tendencies are globally considered outside the bounds of progressivism."

He continued, "As heterogeneous entities, they are currently causing severe internal strife akin to a de facto split," and added, "soon, they will be forced into a situation where a formal split is inevitable."

In response to the split speculation inside and outside the party, the pro-Lee faction pushed back. Democratic Party lawmaker Woo Won-shik said in an interview with CBS Radio, "I hope the talk about splitting stops. I wish it would end," criticizing, "Such talk only fuels internal conflicts."

Woo urged Lee Sang-min, "The party fundamentally needs to unite tightly around the party leader, and as long as the Yoon Seok-youl administration's tyranny continues, the party must unite as one to resist it," adding, "It would be best to stop wordplay like 'split' or 'pleasant breakup.'"

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