Jin Joong-kwon: "Return of Lee Hae-chan, Yoo Si-min, and Cho Kuk... A Positive Phenomenon for People Power Party"

"Ihaechan's Appearance, Saying Pro-Democratic Party Lawmakers Are Not Moving"

Former Dongyang University Professor Jin Joong-kwon. /Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon evaluated the resumption of public activities by former Roh Moo-hyun Foundation Chairman Yoo Si-min and former Democratic Party leader Lee Hae-chan ahead of the presidential election as "a favorable phenomenon for the People Power Party."

On the 14th, Jin posted an article titled "The Return of the Retired King" on his Facebook, saying, "The retired king (former leader Lee) hurriedly reappeared with Yoo Si-min to encourage the lawmakers."

He explained, "Lee Hae-chan's appearance means that the pro-Moon lawmakers are not moving. By 'slimming down' the mammoth election committee, everything ended up being handled by the candidate himself and his close aides. So, the hesitant lawmakers no longer have much to help with," adding, "Each lawmaker is a constitutional institution and does not move like civil servants, so a retired king is needed."

He continued, "This person does not have the ability to set agendas with any vision; he just has some experience in running elections, but that method has long become outdated," and predicted, "He will mainly nag the junior lawmakers to run around and probably engage in dissing Yoon Seok-yeol, but his style is too lame to be effective."

He added, "Lee Hae-chan, Yoo Si-min, Chu Mi-ae, and Cho Kuk have all returned," and said, "This is a favorable phenomenon for the People Power Party."

In particular, Jin criticized former leader Lee, saying, "Under the Moon Jae-in administration, the Democratic Party completely lost its identity as a liberal party. The main culprit who caused this was Lee Hae-chan, the boss of the 586 activist faction who held hegemony in the Democratic Party," and claimed, "Under his command, the Kim Dae-jung?Roh Moo-hyun Democratic Party turned into something resembling an NL activist organization moving according to extreme factional logic."

He also pointed out, "Lee Hae-chan's appearance is an obstacle to centrist expansion. When Kim Jong-in was the emergency committee chairman of the Democratic Party, cutting off Lee Hae-chan and Jung Cheong-rae allowed the party to win elections, which was a masterstroke," and criticized, "By removing the two hardliners, the party could expand to the center, but because the expelled Lee returned and took party leadership, the Democratic Party ended up in that state."