Opposition Party's Public Official Committee Chair Pressures 'Pro- Moon Jae-in' Not to Run... Will Factional Conflict Flare Up Again?

Im Hyuk-baek, the Democratic Party of Korea's nomination management committee chairman, has pressured pro-Moon Jae-in figures to withdraw from the race by invoking the "responsibility theory for the birth of the Yoon Seok-yeol regime." This appears to have reignited factional conflicts that Lee Jae-myung, the party leader, had previously patched up with former President Moon Jae-in. As the notification of the list of incumbent lower-ranked evaluators who will be subject to 'cut-off' is imminent, voices expressing concerns about a 'nomination massacre' are emerging, mainly from the pro-Moon and non-Lee factions.

According to political circles on the 7th, Chairman Im Hyuk-baek said after the first announcement of the primary regions the previous day, "I ask senior politicians to make responsible decisions so that they can pave the way for their juniors," and added, "Those who caused the birth of the Yoon Seok-yeol prosecution regime should also show a responsible attitude."

Im Hyuk-baek, Chairman of the Democratic Party's Public Office Election Candidate Recommendation Management Committee, is announcing the first round primary candidates at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul on the 6th. Previously, the committee conducted interviews over six days from the 31st of last month until the 5th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

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Within the party, Im's remark about the 'prosecution regime responsibility theory' is interpreted as pressure on former government figures to voluntarily withdraw before the list notification. At a press briefing held on the 21st of last month, he also cited the four-character idiom jiji-bultae (知止不殆, meaning 'knowing when to stop avoids danger') to pressure senior lawmakers and figures from the Moon Jae-in administration to step down.

Although Chairman Im did not specify particular targets, his remarks effectively support the 'pro-Moon retirement theory,' centered on the pro-Lee faction. The offensive is focused on symbolic figures from the Moon Jae-in administration, such as former Presidential Chief of Staff Lim Jong-seok. Jeong Seong-ho, a leading pro-Lee lawmaker, intensified the pressure on KBS Radio the previous day, saying, "Regarding former Chiefs Lim Jong-seok and Noh Young-min, there is some public opinion that those who played the most responsible roles in the Moon Jae-in government should take responsibility for the rise of the Yoon Seok-yeol regime."

Former Chief Lim Jong-seok responded on Facebook immediately after Chairman Im's remarks, stating, "I do not agree with the perception that the Moon Jae-in government is responsible for the presidential election defeat and the birth of the Yoon Seok-yeol regime," and added, "Blaming each other could repeat the pain of the election defeat."

Im Jong-seok, former Chief of Staff to the President. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

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A former cabinet member from the previous government pointed out in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the same day, "(Chairman Im Hyuk-baek's) remarks themselves are an attack on the Moon Jae-in government and empower pro-Lee assassins." He predicted, "If figures like former Chief Lim Jong-seok are unfairly excluded from nominations, the problem will escalate," and added, "Ahead of the full-scale nominations, this could become a turning point for a chain of defections or splits."

A senior metropolitan area lawmaker said, "There are rumors that many pro-Moon and non-Lee figures are included among the bottom 20% targets, but ultimately, they are just looking for scapegoats," and questioned, "Isn't the defeated candidate in the presidential election Leader Lee Jae-myung, not former President Moon Jae-in?" He criticized, "Although the retirement theory is predictable before the general election, it is hard to understand why the nomination committee chairman keeps making unnecessary remarks," and added, "In the end, it is self-destructive."

The Democratic Party's nomination committee additionally announced 24 single-candidate nomination districts, mainly involving non-incumbents, on the same day. Sensitive constituencies are excluded. The second announcement of primary regions and the notification of the bottom 20% incumbent evaluators are scheduled after the Lunar New Year holidays. Incumbents in the bottom 20% will have 20% of their primary votes deducted, and those in the bottom 10% will have 30% deducted. Therefore, those in the bottom 10% are effectively considered 'excluded from nomination.'

Inside and outside the party, rumors are circulating that many pro-Moon or non-Lee lawmakers are included in the list of lower-ranked evaluators. If this forecast materializes, it could lead to further defections and division movements ahead of the full-scale nominations. Under the current election law, candidates who participate in primaries with a deduction penalty and lose are not allowed to run as independents in the same constituency.

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