Lee Jae-myung's 'Presidential Run' Fully Led by the 'New Lee Jae-myung Faction'

The Democratic Party of Korea has established the framework for the 'Lee Jae-myung 2nd term' leadership. The 'New Lee Jae-myung faction (Shinmyeong faction)' has been fully deployed to reorganize the party's personnel composition. They are expected to divide roles and work towards the goal of the next administration.

Regarding party operations, Representative Kim Min-seok is drawing attention. Kim, a four-term lawmaker who ranked first in the Supreme Council election, served as the situation room chief during the April 10 general election. He is praised for effectively preparing candidate guidelines when the People Power Party launched attacks or when there were controversies over offensive remarks during the election period. During the nationwide party member convention, Leader Lee effectively recognized Kim as the 'camp chairman' and supported his election efforts. Kim refers to himself as the 'Head of the Administration Plan Headquarters' and stated that he will create a 'meritocracy concentric system' centered around Leader Lee.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea (center), Park Chan-dae, floor leader (top left), Kim Min-seok, Supreme Council member (bottom left), Jin Sung-jun, chairman of the Policy Committee (top right), Kim Yoon-duk, secretary general (bottom right)

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Kim is expected to play a role in resolving the political deadlock that follows the opposition party's unilateral legislation and the president's veto. A Democratic Party lawmaker said, "Kim is trusted by Leader Lee because he writes clear reports analyzing situations and proposing solutions."

Regarding the parliamentary situation, Kim is working in continuity with Floor Leader Park Chan-dae and Policy Committee Chair Jin Sung-jun. He has been collaborating with them since the end of the 'Lee Jae-myung 1st term' from April to May. After Leader Lee's resignation and before his reappointment, Floor Leader Park served as acting leader for about two months, filling the gap. Along with Deputy Floor Leader Park Sung-jun, he led efforts to establish communication channels with the ruling party. Furthermore, Leader Lee's decision to retain Policy Committee Chair Jin symbolizes placing a 'balancer.' Despite differences in opinions on issues such as the financial investment income tax, Leader Lee personally encouraged Jin by saying, "It is desirable for the Policy Committee to uphold principles."

Meanwhile, there are lawmakers supporting policies such as the 'Basic Society' and 'Energy Highway' pledged by Leader Lee from behind the scenes. Representative Park Ju-min, a former Deputy Floor Leader, is the lead lawmaker of the National Assembly Basic Society Forum. Park is concretizing the vision of Basic Society by holding lectures with Kang Nam-hoon, chairman of the Basic Society Foundation. In renewable energy legislation, Representative Kim Sung-hwan, who served as secretary of the Talent Recruitment Committee during the last general election, and Park Ji-hye, the 'No. 1 talent' and Deputy Director of the Digital Strategy Office, are leading the efforts. Lee Han-joo, head of the Democratic Research Institute, oversees the party's think tank and suggests overall policy directions.

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There is also a group of lawmakers defending against the 'judicial risk' considered a weakness of Leader Lee. The Prosecutorial Reform Task Force and Prosecutor Crime Response Task Force (led by Kim Yong-min), and the Political Prosecution Case Fabrication Task Force (led by Min Hyung-bae) under the party's Countermeasures Committee against Prosecutorial Dictatorship Political Oppression emphasize prosecutorial reform and have submitted impeachment motions against prosecutors who investigated Leader Lee.

There is potential to promote a 'Dongjin policy' centered on Supreme Council members Jeon Hyun-hee and Lee Eon-ju. Through former Supreme Council member Jeon, who has election experience in Seoul's Gangnam and Gangbuk districts, and Supreme Council member Lee, who is from Busan, the party aims to secure support bases in the Yeongnam region, including Daegu, Gyeongbuk, Busan, and Gyeongnam. Additionally, the party is likely to strengthen organizational power by utilizing Representative Kim Woo-young (Chief of Political Coordination Office) and Representative Hwang Myung-sun (Chief of Organizational Affairs), former standing representatives of the party's largest organization, the 'Democratic Innovation Council.'

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