Lee Jae-myung's Return Imminent... What Message Will He Send About the 'Expulsion of Pro-Approval Faction'?

Park Yongjin "Lee Jaemyung Must Unite and Consolidate the Party"
Jung Seongho "Won't Talk About 'What to Do with the Screams'"

As Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is about to return to party affairs, attention is focused on what stance he will take toward the so-called 'approval faction' who voted in favor of his arrest motion. Amid growing calls from pro-Lee (친명) figures within the party and hardline supporters to 'expel the approval faction,' voices are also emerging that Lee should deliver a 'unification' message to maintain party cohesion.

On the 6th, Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin said on CBS's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show," "Whether he is discharged from the hospital and wherever he goes, his path must lead to the Democratic Party's victory in the general election," adding, "He has a role to play in unifying and consolidating the party," urging him to focus on unity.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Park made these remarks as pro-Lee figures such as Supreme Council member Jeong Cheong-rae continue to issue harsh pressure statements against the 'approval faction' within the party, and among the hardline supporters known as 'Gaeddal,' a 'Watermelon Party Affiliation Identification List'?which categorizes Democratic Party lawmakers by their tendencies?is circulating. 'Watermelon' is a derogatory slang term implying someone is different on the outside and inside, used to disparage the anti-Lee (비명) faction. Park himself is classified as part of the anti-Lee faction, labeled 'Party 4' among Gaeddal.

Park expressed concern over this trend, saying, "The Democratic Party must remain a party where diversity exists, where differing opinions are respected, and a democratic party that stays close to the people. It must never become a party where only one opinion is accepted and other dissenting views are ignored or driven out."

Even within the pro-Lee camp, it is explained that Lee is unlikely to openly issue an expulsion message against the approval faction. Jeong Seong-ho, a leading pro-Lee Democratic Party lawmaker, said on SBS's "Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show" that he does not expect statements like "What will we do with the anti-Lee faction or the approval faction?" He added, "After fasting for 24 days and recovering following the dismissal of the arrest warrant, would he return to party affairs and make divisive or factional remarks?"

Jeong explained that Lee is expected to emphasize a message focused on unity. He said, "At this point, the most important thing is to stress party unity and integration," adding, "He will embrace and reconcile rather than speak in a dichotomous way."

If Lee returns to party affairs, attention will also be on whether he will support the upcoming by-election for the Gangseo District Office, which is just five days away. Currently, the leadership of both ruling and opposition parties is fully mobilized to support their candidates in the Gangseo by-election. Political circles analyze that Lee's direct support could positively influence the final consolidation of his support base. He has already issued a message encouraging early voting from his hospital bed.

Kim Jae-won, Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, said on KBS's "Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs," "I don't know if Lee's favorability is that high, but he definitely has an effect in rallying the Democratic Party and encouraging its supporters to go to the polls."

Meanwhile, Lee departed from Green Hospital in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the same day to attend the first trial related to the Daejang-dong and Wirye New Town preferential treatment allegations. This is his first external schedule nine days after the prosecution's arrest warrant was dismissed. Attention is focused on whether he will deliver any messages regarding party issues when meeting reporters before and after the trial attendance.

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