Former Lawmaker Choi Min-hee, Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae Top Ranked
Low Popularity of 'Pro-Moon Faction' Including Lee Nak-yeon and Park Kwang-on
Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung and former leader Choo Mi-ae greeting supporters in Daegu Dongseong-ro last February. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] Supporters of Lee Jae-myung, Senior Advisor of the Democratic Party of Korea, are drawing attention as they engage in a 'popularity vote' for ruling party figures who could aid Lee's future political path. Notably, those who actively supported Lee in the last presidential election mostly secured high rankings.
Members of the website 'Jaemyung's Village,' where Lee's supporters gather, revealed the results of the 'Affiliated Group Popularity Ranking' vote for the last week of this month on the 26th. This vote is conducted weekly, with members casting votes for politicians they favor to determine rankings. Approximately 17,800 people participated in this round.
All politicians are evaluated based on various indicators such as 'Jam Points,' 'Support Power,' 'Offensive Power,' 'Defensive Power,' 'Insight,' and 'Character.' Among these, the most important score is the Jam Points (Jaemyung + Points), which, according to the website, can be interpreted as 'the ability to protect Advisor Lee until the next presidential election.'
The person who ranked first in this month's final week popularity vote was Representative Choi Kang-wook of the Democratic Party, who scored 492.58 Jam Points. Representative Choi has defended Advisor Lee before and after the recent presidential election.
In a popularity poll of ruling party politicians conducted by supporters of Lee Jae-myung, Senior Advisor of the Democratic Party of Korea, Representative Choi Kang-wook ranked first. / Photo by Internet Community Capture
On the 24th, during the Democratic Party's new floor leader election, he stated, "The rude and disrespectful attitude currently shown by President-elect Yoon Seok-youl is very concerning," and emphasized, "The new floor leader has the responsibility to protect the people and lawmakers, safeguard our party, and defend President Moon Jae-in and former candidate Lee Jae-myung."
Former Representative Choi Min-hee (2nd place), who served as the media spokesperson for the Democratic Party's presidential campaign committee, and former Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae (3rd place) also ranked among the top. Minister Chu supported Advisor Lee, who faced controversies such as the 'Daejang-dong development preferential treatment suspicion' and 'insulting his sister-in-law' during the Democratic Party's 20th presidential candidate primary.
In the Democratic Party primary TV debate held in September last year, she strongly criticized then-candidate Lee Nak-yeon by saying, "There was an attempt to frame this as the Lee Jae-myung gate in collusion with the People Power Party," and added, "Candidate Lee Nak-yeon brought the opposition's logic to target and attack our candidate."
Those ranked lower were mostly classified as pro-Moon Jae-in faction members. Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon ranked 56th out of 65, and Representative Park Kwang-on, who participated in this floor leader election, came in last at 65th place.
Park Hong-geun, the newly appointed floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is expressing his acceptance speech after being elected as the new floor leader at the party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 24th. / Photo by Yonhap News
Meanwhile, within the party, 'Lee Jae-myung faction' lawmakers are emerging as the mainstream. Newly elected floor leader Park Hong-geun, chosen after the third round of voting in the Democratic Party floor leader election on the 24th, is a representative example.
On the day, Floor Leader Park said, "We ultimately failed to recreate the regime. We must reflect deeply and thoroughly reform to regain the people's trust," adding, "As the opposition party's first floor leader, this position is like holding a poisoned cup, carrying a cross, and standing on a razor's edge. Someone must lead the way through this difficult hurdle, even if it means facing bullets and swords."
He continued, "We will resolutely block unfair oppression and firmly carry out reform and checks. If political retaliation and prosecutorial overreach become a reality, we will fight with everything we have," emphasizing, "President-elect Yoon's arrogance and lack of communication, and his hostile attitude toward President Moon and the Democratic Party are serious. We will definitely protect President Moon and Advisor Lee Jae-myung."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
