Lee Nak-yeon: "I Will Speak When It's Time to Form a New Party... Democratic Party Has Lost Its Ability to Recover"

"Ijaemyeong Trial Risk Yet Strange Silence Among Lawmakers"
"Maintaining Semi-Linked System Assuming Satellite Parties' Abandonment Is Desirable"

Former Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Nak-yeon left open the possibility of forming a new party on the 30th, saying, "I will speak when the time comes to speak."

Lee appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' that day and said, "I always think deeply about what I should do for the country. I have lived with the belief that the party should come before the individual, and the country before the party, and that remains the same now."

Having recently criticized the leadership of Lee Jae-myung, Lee diagnosed, "Originally, the Democratic Party had its own immune system for decades. Internal diversity and intra-party democracy are exactly that immune system. When the immune system collapses, the ability to recover is lost, and the Democratic Party is currently in such a state."

He said, "There is something (that refuses to accept different voices), and a strange silence has continued for a long time. It is a strange silence where words that should come out do not. Even on issues where lawmakers and party members should naturally express minority opinions or alternatives, such discussions do not arise. This makes me feel that intra-party democracy is being suppressed."

For example, Lee said, "Lee Jae-myung goes to court several times a week, for days at a time, so it is natural to worry, 'What should we do about this?' or 'Can we hold the general election in this state?'" He pointed out the party’s silence regarding Lee Jae-myung’s trial risks.

Lee also downplayed the significance of his recent private meeting with former People Power Party emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in. He said, "I have known him for about 42 years, and our offices are in the same building," adding that they "did not discuss anything deeply related to forming a new party."

Regarding the electoral system reform for next year’s general election, he said, "The Democratic Party has long upheld one principle. It has supported a multiparty system," emphasizing, "Various opinion polls show 30%, 30%, and 30%. Two parties receive 30% support each, and about 30% of people dislike both. We need to give those who say 'There is no correct answer on this test paper' a chance to choose."

He added, "It is right to adopt an electoral system that better supports a multiparty system," and said, "Maintaining the semi-proportional representation system, assuming the abandonment of satellite parties, meets the demands of the current era."

Regarding voices within the Democratic Party calling for a parallel proportional representation system, he said, "We need to consider whether making decisions that contradict the values we have long pursued or betraying the expectations of civil society, which has been a longtime supporter of the Democratic Party, will lead to victory or not. Regardless of the outcome, the public will want us to keep our promises more."

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