Controversy Over Gimpo's Incorporation into Seoul, Lee Nak-yeon: "Opposition Not Confident... Ruling Party's Dangerous Gamble"

Posting on Facebook Criticizes Democratic Party
"A Risky and Irresponsible Gamble to Shake an Unfavorable Election"

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon harshly criticized the ruling People Power Party's push to incorporate Gimpo City in Gyeonggi Province into Seoul, calling it an "irresponsible gamble to shake up an unfavorable election landscape." He also criticized the Democratic Party, saying, "It is not dignified for the opposition party to neither take a clear stance for or against nor present a clear alternative."

On the 4th, Lee stated on his Facebook, "(With Gimpo City's incorporation into Seoul) it seems the ruling party wants to shake up an unfavorable election landscape. However, this goes beyond elections and shakes the national goal of balanced development."

Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon giving a special lecture at Jeju National University last September
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Lee added, "We have added balanced development and decentralization as national strategies. We have been striving desperately to stop the trend of local extinction. The ruling party has shaken such arduous efforts in one fell swoop."

He continued, "The ruling party is mentioning all places close to Seoul, such as Guri, Hanam, and Seongnam," and criticized, "What are they trying to do? Are they trying to turn Seoul into a dinosaur and twist the nation into a fraction?"

He also questioned, "The incorporation of Gimpo into Seoul is not something that can be concluded by the general election in April next year," adding, "Legislative measures like a special law will be necessary, but is that possible before the general election?"

[Photo by Lee Nak-yeon, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, Facebook]

Lee further questioned, "They are mentioning all places close to Seoul, trying to turn Seoul into a dinosaur and twist the nation into a fraction," and asked, "If that logic holds, should we also incorporate Seoraksan and Jirisan into Seoul?"

He also criticized the Democratic Party's attitude of not clearly stating a position for or against. He pointed out, "I don't know if they think they won't get caught up in the ruling party's intentions, but will this commotion stop just because of that?"

Along with Lee Nak-yeon, other Democratic Party lawmakers are urging the party to take an official stance on the issue of Gimpo City's incorporation into Seoul.

Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Gun-young also said on Facebook the same day, "This is not a matter to be handled ambiguously or with hesitation. A swift and firm position is needed," adding, "Just because the ruling party is blinded by vote calculations and only looks at elections, the Democratic Party should not follow suit."

Yoon emphasized, "If we keep hesitating, we will lose both the crab and the flatfish," and stressed, "The more shamelessly irresponsible the government and ruling party act, the louder the Democratic Party should shout the value of the national balanced development strategy."

Lawmaker Kim Doo-kwan also stated on Facebook on the 2nd, "The People Power Party's reckless claim that they will win the election even if the country collapses deserves condemnation, but the Democratic Party leadership's response was also greatly flawed," and argued, "Our party must respond more actively."

While Democratic Party lawmakers have individually voiced opposition, the party as a whole has only criticized the People Power Party's background for pushing the incorporation without clearly stating a position for or against.

Within the leadership, Floor Leader Hong Ik-pyo called it an "unrealistic and hasty plan" and mentioned the prompt extension of Line 5 as an alternative, but the party has not clearly opposed the plan at the party level. Leader Lee Jae-myung also did not respond to questions about the incorporation issue at recent press briefings.

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