[Exclusive] Future Minjoo Party, Also Claiming 'Pro-Lee Jae-myung Faction'... "2-3 Senior Minjoo Members to Join Lee Jae-myung Faction"

This Governor's Office: "Completely Unrelated... No Gyeonggi-do Natives Will Join"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] The 'Future Democratic Party,' which supports the Democratic Party of Korea and Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, announced that it will participate in the proportional representation election mainly with some incumbent lawmakers who did not receive the Democratic Party nomination and 'pro-Lee Jae-myung faction' candidates. Following the 'Open Democratic Party' founded by former lawmaker Jeong Bong-ju, another Democratic Party-affiliated party may emerge in the general election arena.

On the 19th, Cheon Se-gyeong, the leader of the Future Democratic Party, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy, "We plan to run in the election mainly with 2-3 senior incumbent Democratic Party lawmakers and some candidates from Governor Lee Jae-myung's side who did not pass the primaries. By around the 20th, we will announce specific recruited personnel and the party's election direction."

He added, "The Future Democratic Party is a party where 'pro-Moon' and 'pro-Lee Jae-myung' factions come together," and said, "We are discussing whether to participate in the Democratic Party's ongoing proportional representation election coalition, and if we do not participate, we will run independently."

During the Democratic Party's nomination process, lawmakers Oh Je-se, Min Byung-doo, Jeong Jae-ho, and Shin Chang-hyun were 'cut off,' and lawmakers Lee Seok-hyun, Lee Jong-gol, Lee Chun-seok, Yoo Seung-hee, Shin Kyung-min, Shim Jae-kwon, Son Geum-joo, Lee Chun-seok, and Jeong Eun-hye failed to pass the primaries. These individuals are generally evaluated as being distant from the core 'pro-Moon' faction.

Among the 'pro-Lee Jae-myung faction' were Lee Hwa-young, former Deputy Governor for Peace of Gyeonggi Province; Jo Gye-won, former Chief Policy Secretary of Gyeonggi Province; Lim Geun-jae, former Director of the Economic Division at the Gyeonggi Province Economic Science Promotion Agency; and Lim Jin, former Director of the Gyeonggi Province Market Promotion Agency. They ran in the primaries but did not advance to the main election. However, Governor Lee's approval rating has significantly risen due to his firm response to Shincheonji and others amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Future Democratic Party held its central party founding convention on the 11th and was registered as a political party with the National Election Commission on the 16th. The Future Democratic Party introduces itself as "centered on volunteers who aim to uphold grassroots democracy for the success of the Moon Jae-in administration, inheriting the spirit of the Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun eras."

In its founding statement, it also proposed "establishing independent prosecution and police organizations for each metropolitan local government to prevent issues such as external pressure and corruption arising from a nationwide unified organization."

The Democratic Party launched the 'Together Citizens Party' on the 18th along with the platform party 'For the Citizens,' but it is showing a stance of distancing itself from the Open Democratic Party.

Governor Lee's side drew a clear line, stating they have no connection with the Future Democratic Party. Former Gyeonggi Province spokesperson Kim Yong said, "The Democratic Party decided to create the Together Citizens Party as a platform party through a party member vote to form a proportional representation coalition, and we fully support this decision. It is also untrue that people from Governor Lee's side are joining. Even those from Gyeonggi Province who lost their nominations, such as former Deputy Governor Lee Hwa-young, who is serving as the head of the central party's election campaign headquarters, are working hard for the Democratic Party's victory in the general election with a spirit of putting the party before personal interests."