Lee Jae-myung's 'Meoksanism' Draws Criticism from Both Ruling and Opposition Parties: "Populism" "Identity Destruction"

Choo Kyung-ho "If Meoksanism is sincere, legislative rampage must stop"
Kim Doo-kwan "Must explain how to secure finances"

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung's attempt to run for party leader again has been met with negative reactions to the 'Meoksanism' he promoted. The ruling party criticized it as 'populism,' while some opposition members pointed out that the progressive camp has lost its identity.

Lee Jae-myung, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is declaring his candidacy for party leader at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 10th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

At a press conference announcing his candidacy for party leader on the 10th at the party member zone of the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, Lee said, "I can say with certainty that nothing is more important than the issue of making a living," adding, "Meoksanism is the only ideology." Alongside Meoksanism, Lee also advocated for a basic income. He stated, "The state must guarantee the basic lives of the people in terms of income, housing, finance, healthcare, education, energy, and telecommunications, and maintain a certain level of consumption," and added, "We should gradually implement and expand birth basic income, basic housing, basic finance, basic healthcare, and basic education." Furthermore, he hinted at postponing the financial investment income tax (Geumtu Tax) and fundamentally reconsidering the comprehensive real estate tax (Jongbu Tax), which is interpreted as aiming for middle-class votes through tax cuts rather than tax increases.

The ruling party was the first to respond to Lee's Meoksanism. Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People Power Party, pointed out that Lee's Meoksanism is nothing but "populism." At an emergency committee meeting held on the 11th at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul, he said, "After turning the National Assembly into a chaotic battleground of impeachment and political strife, making an empty Meoksanism declaration is an insult to the people," adding, "Few people will believe in the sincerity of this repackaged populism." He continued, "If Lee is truly sincere about solving the people's livelihood issues, he should first declare a halt to legislative rampages driven by political strife and attempts to impeach prosecutors and the president, and then engage in policy competition with the ruling party to resolve livelihood issues."

Former lawmaker Kim, who is also running for party leader alongside Lee, directly criticized Meoksanism. In a statement on the 12th, Kim said, "Fundamentally reconsidering the comprehensive real estate tax and postponing the implementation of the financial investment income tax seriously undermines the Democratic Party's identity as a representative of the working class and middle class," adding, "It directly contradicts the tax policy foundation of the Democratic Party since former President Roh Moo-hyun." He also pointed out, "With the Yoon Seok-youl administration's reckless tax cuts for the wealthy causing an unprecedented shortfall in tax revenue, Lee Jae-myung must explain where he will secure the finances needed for livelihood, welfare, and local autonomy."

Opposition also came from within the Democratic Party leadership. Jin Sung-jun, chairman of the Democratic Party's Policy Committee, told reporters after a policy meeting on the 11th that regarding the postponement of the financial investment income tax, "(Lee) seems to think of it as just a postponement, but I believe that should not be done." On the fundamental reconsideration of the comprehensive real estate tax, he bluntly said, "It is basically an issue that does not need to be discussed." He added, "Although I think there is no need for discussion, if Lee becomes the leader, discussion will be inevitable," and emphasized, "Even if he says we should discuss it within the party after being elected, I will still say no at that time."

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