野 is Workshop, 與 is Retreat... Can They Escape the 'Crisis'?

Ahead of the Regular National Assembly Session, Separate Events
Opposition 'Lee Jae-myung's Position' Ruling Party 'Capital Region Crisis Theory'

Ahead of the September regular National Assembly session, the ruling and opposition parties held retreats and workshops to demonstrate unity. However, looking beneath the surface, a sense of anxiety surrounding the 'Capital Region Crisis Theory' was detected at the ruling party's retreat, while factional power struggles over the leadership position of Lee Jae-myung, whose judicial risks are escalating, were observed at the opposition party's workshop.

Cho Seung-hyun, Senior Standing Vice Chairman of the Democratic Party's Public Communication Committee, commented on the workshop where non-Myeong faction member Seol Hoon demanded that Lee Jae-myung "dive into Indangsu like Sim Cheong." On the 29th of last month, on BBS's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal,' he said, "If Representative Seol is to become Sim Cheong now, how can he tell the party leader, who was elected by 77.77% of party members, to act like Sim Cheong?"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the Democratic Party workshop, Seol, a five-term veteran lawmaker, indirectly pressured the party leader's position by targeting Lee's judicial risks, saying that "just as Sim Cheong sacrificed herself by diving into Indangsu to become queen, he should sacrifice himself." In response, Vice Chairman Cho explained, "That one comment (from Representative Seol) was somewhat a blemish, but the rest of the atmosphere was very amicable."

However, the atmosphere was not as 'amicable' as he described. Pro-Lee lawmaker Yang Kyung-sook opposed Seol's claim, raising her voice to say, "Let's ask the party members and reject the party stance on the arrest motion." In response, non-Myeong faction member Lee Sang-min of the Democratic Party pointed out on CBS's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "(If it is rejected) the party will be in ruins," adding, "We have promised to give up immunity from arrest, so proposing a party stance to reverse that is unreasonable."

The ruling party's retreat, attended by President Yoon Suk-yeol, saw a heightened atmosphere, but a sense of crisis surrounding the 'Capital Region Crisis Theory' was detected. Kim Ki-hyun, leader of the People Power Party, acknowledged the 'Capital Region Crisis Theory' by saying at the retreat, "Having various (intra-party) debates over the capital region elections is a very healthy discussion," while emphasizing the importance of talent recruitment.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding this, Kim Jae-won, a senior member of the People Power Party, expressed on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' "From the leader's perspective, there is confidence that any debate, as long as it is healthy, can be accepted," but also voiced concern, "If it spreads into the Capital Region Crisis Theory, it could lead to a defeatist mindset as if we are going to suffer a significant loss in the general election."

Excessive crisis rhetoric could actually bring about a real crisis. Kim Byung-min, another senior member of the People Power Party, said on KBS's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs,' "Such discussions did not come up in a common meeting where all lawmakers were present," adding, "If the message that the capital region is extremely difficult and that a serious problem is imminent spreads, it could dampen the internal momentum and discourage those who are trying."

There is also analysis that the 'Capital Region Crisis Theory' is not new. Yoo Sang-beom, chief spokesperson of the People Power Party, said on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' "Basically, the party leadership recognizes that the capital region is an area where we have never achieved a complete victory in over 20 years of elections," and "We acknowledge that it is a difficult region for us."

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