Im Jong-seok "Lee Jae-myung cannot do everything alone... Pro-Lee faction cannot gain majority trust"

Im Jong-seok: "The Democratic Party Should Become an Opposition Party Like the Ruling Party"
Calls for Opening the Party's Doors
Kim Kyung-soo: "We Must Demonstrate Democracy Not Only in Political Direction, but Also in Behavior and Culture"

Im Jong-seok, former Chief of Staff to the President, advised on the 24th that "Lee Jae-myung alone cannot do everything well" and emphasized the need for 'melting pot-like leadership' so that the Democratic Party can transcend the pro-Lee (pro-Lee Jae-myung) factionalism.

On the same day, through social media (SNS), former Chief of Staff Im mentioned the role of the Democratic Party in the current situation where President Yoon Seok-yeol is undergoing impeachment proceedings, advising that the party should become an "opposition party like the ruling party." This is interpreted as a call for a change in response from Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party leadership amid warning signs such as trailing behind the People Power Party in some public opinion polls.

Im Jong-seok, former Chief of Staff to the President Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

He said, "Now one hand must finish the impeachment, and the other hand must work on restoring the people's lives," adding, "Condemnation should be left to judicial procedures, and the Democratic Party should engage in politics that heal a deeply divided country." Former Chief of Staff Im also stated, "Under the condition that the president's duties are suspended, the public's view of the Democratic Party can only become stricter," and "It is a natural remaining task and responsibility for the Democratic Party, which led the president's impeachment."

He proposed the Democratic Party's future political response as being an "opposition party like the ruling party." Im said, "We must prepare measures to support people's livelihoods and revitalize the economy, and also establish bold local decentralization and balanced development strategies such as relocating the administrative capital," adding, "We must also create a Democratic Party vision for diplomacy and trade."

To this end, he urged opening the party's doors. He said, "There are many assets inside and outside the Democratic Party with experience and capabilities in state governance," and "We should not push them away but open our arms. We must maximize solidarity, inclusion, and integration."

Former Chief of Staff Im shared an anecdote from when he joined Moon Jae-in's presidential campaign, recalling that he requested that half of the campaign be composed of figures not affiliated with the pro-Moon faction, saying, "It is difficult to gain the trust of the majority of the people with only the pro-Lee colors."

He added, "For the Democratic Party to be trusted and chosen by the people will be the completion of the impeachment," and "I look forward to melting pot-like leadership from the Democratic Party."

Meanwhile, former Governor of Gyeongnam Kim Kyung-soo also said at the '7th CountryLAB Founding Commemorative Symposium - Democracy Beyond Impeachment Symposium' the day before, "It is true that people have doubts whether the Democratic Party is showing the same unilateral behavior as 'them,'" and "Now, not only in political direction but also in political behavior and culture, we must clearly demonstrate that we are a democratic force. We must clearly show the people that we do not allow the solo run of any one person or one way of thinking while aiming for pluralism, and that violent language and behavior will not be tolerated."

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