"Is Everyone on Our Side Just Because Only Yoon Opposes?" Democratic Party in Turmoil Over Lee Eon-ju's Reinstatement

Confident in 'January Reinstatement' but Cautious Amid Party Opposition
Former Lawmaker Lee Eon-ju Faces Growing Dilemma Over Non-Candidacy Condition

The internal turmoil within the party is intensifying over the reinstatement of former lawmaker Lee Eon-ju, who left the People Power Party, back into the Democratic Party of Korea. The reason is that there is no justification for Lee's return, as he had previously left in opposition to the pro-Moon Jae-in faction. As backlash within the party surged, the leadership urged Lee to prioritize the party's interests over personal matters.

On the 30th, Kim Young-jin, a Democratic Party lawmaker serving as the party leader's chief political coordinator, said on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' program, "It seems that (Representative Lee Jae-myung and former lawmaker Lee) shared the view that we need to do something to stop the reckless actions of the Yoon Seok-yeol government and overcome the crises facing democracy, people's livelihoods, and inter-Korean relations."

There is growing turmoil within the party over the readmission of former lawmaker Lee Eon-ju, who left the People Power Party, to the Democratic Party of Korea. The reason is that Lee, who previously left in opposition to the pro-Moon Jae-in faction, lacks justification for rejoining. As internal opposition surged, the leadership urged former lawmaker Lee to prioritize the party's interests before personal matters.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Kim explained the background of encouraging Lee's return, saying, "(Former lawmaker Lee) shares a similar view on how to halt the backward and disastrous direction the Republic of Korea is heading under the Yoon Seok-yeol government and move forward." He added, "Lee has undergone a process of political development and evolution, reflecting on his politics, and if he innovates, there is a point where he can fully join us (by rejoining the party)."

However, the atmosphere within the party is not welcoming toward Lee's reinstatement. Opposition from pro-Moon faction lawmakers is particularly noticeable. One lawmaker said, "Since Lee left the Democratic Party, he has made excessive criticisms toward the party, such as questioning whether President Moon Jae-in's administrative experience is worse than that of Choi Soon-sil," adding, "Who would welcome someone who has repeatedly left and rejoined the party?"

Yoon Geon-young, a representative figure of the pro-Moon faction, said on KBS Radio's 'Jeon Jong-cheol's Flash Current Affairs' program, "In principle, it is right to bring in people of various colors during election periods. That is external expansion," but emphasized, "The important thing is that external expansion should not be biased toward one side." He continued, "Just as a tree's branches should spread evenly in all directions, if they lean to one side, they are easily broken," and added, "Especially, the roots must be firmly grounded," as his response.

On the 25th, lawmaker Song Gap-seok expressed opposition on BBS Radio, saying, "Is everyone on our side just because they oppose Yoon Seok-yeol?" He added, "It is hard to understand whether party supporters or the public would accept a situation where people like Oh Young-hwan, Hong Seong-guk, Lee Tan-hee, and Choi Jong-yoon do not run, but someone like Lee Eon-ju returns to the party."

Interpretations Even Suggest 'Pro-Moon Purge'

As demands for him not to run again emerged as a condition for reinstatement, former lawmaker Lee also expressed a cautious stance, saying, "There is no need to rush." On the same day that Floor Leader Hong made his "Serve the party before oneself" remark, Lee said in an interview with YTN Radio, "There is no need to be so hasty," adding, "There are concerns."
[Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@]

Above all, the fact that Representative Lee Jae-myung personally extended a love call to former lawmaker Lee has led the pro-Moon faction to interpret it as a 'pro-Moon purge.' Among them, criticism has grown that it is contradictory for Lee, who could not even embrace the 'defector lawmakers,' to directly propose reinstatement to Lee, who was a fierce critic of the Democratic Party. Hardline party members with a pro-Lee Jae-myung inclination are also opposing, citing Lee's past actions as problematic. It is reported that some in the leadership are suffering from a barrage of text messages from hardline party members opposing Lee's return. One pro-Lee lawmaker said, "The sense of betrayal and disappointment among party members toward Lee seems greater than expected."

As conflicts over Lee's reinstatement deepen, floor leader Hong Ik-pyo sent a proposal to Lee urging him to "prove the sincerity of his return first." This is a demand for Lee to demonstrate a 'party first, personal matters later' attitude, such as running in a difficult electoral district or declaring he will not run, to shed the traitor frame and prove his sincerity in rejoining. Hong said on CBS Radio the previous day, "He must first show sincerity that he is not leaving and returning for political reasons but truly to stop the regression under the Yoon Seok-yeol government and contribute to the party in some way."

As demands for Lee to not run as a condition for reinstatement arise, Lee himself is taking a cautious stance, saying, "There is no need to rush." In an interview with YTN Radio on the same day Hong made his 'party first, personal matters later' remark, he said, "There is no need to be so hasty," adding, "There are points to consider." Lee plans to decide his position by the Lunar New Year holiday at the latest.

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