Lee Nak-yeon Faction: "Only Lee Nak-yeon Can Challenge Oh Se-hoon"... Lee Jae-myung Faction: "Fearful of Purge if Former Governor Lee Elected Party Leader"
Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon is giving a greeting at the launch ceremony of the National Vision and National Integration Committee's National Integration Headquarters last January. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Se-eun] The 'Lee Nak-yeon draft theory' is gradually gaining ground regarding the Democratic Party of Korea's nomination for the Seoul mayoral candidate.
This is based on the judgment that former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon is suitable as a heavyweight figure who can compete against the current Seoul mayor from the People Power Party, Oh Se-hoon.
However, Lee himself is reportedly not yet willing to run.
On the 17th, a lawmaker from Lee's side told Yonhap News in a phone call, "We recently met with Lee and discussed the Seoul mayoral candidacy, but he still has no intention," adding, "It won't be easy even if we make multiple earnest requests, not just three times but six or nine times."
According to another close aide, Lee is planning to go to the United States after successfully concluding the local elections.
He said, "There must be something definite to change that course (going to the U.S.)," but added, "If the party unanimously endorses Lee as the sole candidate, the situation could change."
Lee being mentioned at the final stage of the nomination screening is said to be due to some Seoul lawmakers raising their voices.
A first-term lawmaker from Seoul explained, "The Seoul mayoral election is directly linked to the city and district council elections. The mayoral election atmosphere must be alive for city and district council members to survive," adding, "Currently, there is a widespread perception that there is no alternative other than Lee Nak-yeon."
However, considering existing candidates such as former leader Song Young-gil and lawmaker Park Ju-min, there is no public demand for Lee to run.
Some speculate that the party leadership's designation of Seoul as a strategic electoral district might be a move to pave the way for Lee.
A party official said, "The designation of a strategic electoral district is essentially a preliminary step to strategically nominate a candidate without a primary," emphasizing the weight of the endorsement theory.
In March, Lee Jae-myung, former presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, delivered a greeting at the disbandment ceremony of the campaign committee. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Meanwhile, concerns have been raised that the intra-party conflict between the Lee Jae-myung faction and the Lee Nak-yeon faction, which had been quiet, might reignite with Lee Nak-yeon's emergence.
Former Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung and former leader Lee Nak-yeon once competed in the process of deciding the Democratic Party's presidential candidate.
Some in Lee Jae-myung's camp express suspicion that Lee Nak-yeon's close aides are promoting the 'Lee Nak-yeon draft theory' aiming for the next party leadership.
An official from Lee Jae-myung's faction told Yonhap News, "Sending Lee Nak-yeon to run for Seoul mayor is, regardless of winning or losing, a move for them to seize party leadership," arguing, "Because they can early on turn Seoul party members into a friendly force ahead of the party convention in August."
He continued, "The Lee Nak-yeon faction fears that if Lee Jae-myung becomes party leader, they might be purged through innovative nominations," adding, "The theory of Lee Jae-myung entering local elections is also being promoted by the other side (Lee Nak-yeon's camp) to prevent him from gaining party leadership at all."
In response, a key figure from Lee Nak-yeon's faction refuted, saying, "The conspiracy theories about the 'Lee Nak-yeon draft' are all rumors," and "Lee has already served as party leader; why would his close aides be eager to fight for party leadership again?"
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