Lee Jae-myung: "The ruling party nominates 'Kim Geon-hee special prosecutor'... The Democratic Party uses a system nomination"

Visit to Yangcheon-gu Gap, Seoul... Support for Bimyeong Faction's Hwang Hee
Emphasizing 'Unity' by Establishing Pro-Myeong Faction Rival Lee Na-young

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, came to support Hwang Hee, a member of the 'Bimyeong faction,' in his constituency. Amid a continuous decline in party approval ratings due to the 'nomination turmoil,' Lee's 'on-site visits' to Yangcheon-gu, following Jongno-gu and Yeongdeungpo-gu in Seoul, are interpreted as efforts to boost support. In particular, he criticized the People Power Party for conducting a 'Kim Gun-hee special investigation' nomination, arguing that the Democratic Party is experiencing the pains of 'system nomination.'

On the afternoon of the 6th, Lee Jae-myung visited Seoul Yangcheon-gu Gap, where Hwang Hee is seeking a third term, to offer support. Although Hwang is classified as part of the Bimyeong faction, Lee emphasized unity in his endorsement speech, saying, "The Democratic Party is one community."

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung visited Mokdong Kkaebi Market in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on the 6th and gave a support speech for Hwang Hee, the candidate for Yangcheon-gu Gap.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the campaign site that day, Lee Na-young, a pro-Lee member and standing operating committee member of the Democratic Party's National Innovation Council, who was Hwang's primary rival in the nomination race, was also present. Pointing to the two standing side by side, Lee said, "The sight of these two today perfectly shows the direction our Democratic Party should move forward."

Lee stated, "As members of the big house called the Democratic Party, even if we compete briefly, we must ultimately unite as one and move toward victory," adding, "Because we are members of one community called the Democratic Party, even if there are shortcomings, grievances, or even feelings of unfairness, it is the responsibility of members to respect decisions within and work together for victory."

He continued, "While overseeing the nomination process this time, I realized that nominations should never be done," and said, "Some say it might be about building their own factions, but even those close to me all resent me." He added, "Reform inevitably comes with pain," and "Internal change is unavoidable to accommodate the changes the people desire."

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung visited Mokdong Kkaebi Market in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul on the 6th and gave a support speech for Hwang Hee, the candidate for Yangcheon-gu Gap.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Emphasizing 'unity,' Lee criticized the People Power Party's nomination process as a 'Kim Gun-hee special investigation' nomination and repeatedly defended the controversies within his party. He said, "The public expects so-called multi-term and senior lawmakers who have had many opportunities to step aside and for young, fresh, and capable new figures to take on roles. From that perspective, the People Power Party is conducting a 'rotation of undefeated incumbents,' essentially a Kim Gun-hee special investigation nomination to defend Kim Gun-hee. Only one among the senior lawmakers has been replaced."

He added, "It is painful, but we have replaced eleven senior lawmakers so far," noting, "Among them, five announced their retirement in advance, and although it is unfortunate, four were excluded based on certain criteria, not due to lack of ability." He also mentioned, "Some lost in the primaries," and "Two have left the party, making it three as of today." The lawmakers who left the party in protest against the low evaluation leading to cutoffs include Kim Young-joo, Lee Soo-jin, Park Young-soon, Lee Sang-heon, Seol Hoon, and Hong Young-pyo, totaling six.

Lee further stated, "Although it is often portrayed as if there is a problem, this is clearly the result of the so-called 'system nomination' established a year ago," and asserted the legitimacy of the nomination process, saying, "If we overcome this pain and show the public our representative players in a new form, they will watch and say, 'Ah, this is the precious child born from that noisy and painful process.'"

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