Lee Nak-yeon Clashes Repeatedly with Lee Jae-myung... Calls for a 'Decision' Grow Louder

Sangmin Lee "A Time for Decision and Action"
Jongmin Kim "Not Considering Nakyeon Lee"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is being targeted by former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, who criticized Lee for his judicial risks tightening the party. Lee Nak-yeon’s recent remark that "one cannot sing a cheer song on the corpses of comrades" has drawn attention to his actions. Ahead of the general election, this can be seen as a confrontation with Lee Jae-myung, and voices calling for a "decision to be made" are emerging within the anti-Lee faction (non-Lee Jae-myung faction).

On the 20th, Lee Sang-min, a Democratic Party lawmaker from the anti-Lee faction, said on YTN’s "Shin Yul’s News Face-off," "Former leader Lee Nak-yeon must have various concerns, but I dare say that this is a time when decisions and actions are needed."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, citing a close aide of former leader Lee Nak-yeon, media reports revealed that Lee said, "One cannot sing a cheer song on the corpses of comrades," which was interpreted as a warning about next year’s candidate purges. Following his recent media interview mentioning Lee Jae-myung’s judicial risks, this is seen as another warning message to the party leadership.

Regarding this, lawmaker Lee said, "The role of the Democratic Party with a long tradition seems to have perished. It has completely transformed into ‘Lee Jae-myung’s private party’ and ‘Gaeddal Party’ (a term referring to Lee’s fervent supporters)." He added, "In such a situation, I believe that actions are more necessary than words on how to proceed." This is interpreted as a call for former leader Lee Nak-yeon to clarify his stance more actively.

He continued, "If the party has now degenerated into a private party and is distorted into a structure dominated by fervent, hardcore supporters known as the Gaeddal Party, then either this must be corrected or some drastic measures to restore the Democratic Party are necessary." He emphasized, "For that, definite and continuous actions are needed now."

Since former leader Lee Nak-yeon’s remarks came shortly after the formation of the anti-Lee faction group ‘Principles and Common Sense,’ there is speculation that Lee Nak-yeon could serve as a focal point for the anti-Lee faction. However, Kim Jong-min, a Democratic Party lawmaker and member of ‘Principles and Common Sense,’ drew a line on this in a JTBC broadcast the previous day, saying, "President Moon Jae-in, Lee Jae-myung, and former Justice Minister Cho Kuk are exactly the same, but former leader Lee Nak-yeon is different." He added, "Whatever we do, we do not keep former leader Lee Nak-yeon in mind or consult with him."

Kim said, "Former leader Lee Nak-yeon has already somewhat stepped back from politics. Unless the Democratic Party is in a complete crisis and sending out an SOS, I do not consider consulting or planning political mobilization with him."

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