After Crushing Defeat, Criticism Pours In Saying "Abandoned the Party and Survived Alone" for Lee Jae-myung
Criminal Allegations Remain Including Seongnam FC... Rough Road Expected for Party Leadership Challenge
Lee Jae-myung, the General Election Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, is leaving the situation room after watching the exit poll results at the comprehensive situation room set up in the National Assembly on the 1st. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Yoonjin Kim] Responsibility is being called for both inside and outside the party toward Lee Jae-myung, the General Election Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was elected as the National Assembly member for Gyeyang-eul, Incheon. As the Democratic Party lost most of the local powers except for its strongholds to the People Power Party, it could not avoid criticism that it "survived alone." Lee declared his candidacy in Gyeyang-eul, where he had no ties, on the 7th of last month. Despite criticism of a "candidacy without justification," he chose to "break through head-on," saying he would "support the Democratic Party in crisis."
In the results of the 8th simultaneous local elections and National Assembly by-elections held on the 1st, Lee won with 55.24% (44,289 votes) in Incheon Gyeyang-eul, defeating Yoon Hyung-sun, the People Power Party candidate, who received 44.75% (35,886 votes). Although Lee succeeded in entering the National Assembly, the Democratic Party suffered a heavy defeat, conceding 12 metropolitan mayoral seats to the People Power Party candidates.
Regarding his future moves, there is growing speculation that he will run in the party leadership election scheduled for August, seize party leadership, and then challenge the next presidential election. Former President Moon Jae-in also lost the 2012 presidential election but solidified his base within the party by winning the party leadership in 2015 and then successfully ran again in the 2017 presidential election.
However, within the Democratic Party, movements to hold Lee responsible for the local election defeat have surfaced. On the 2nd, former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon targeted Lee in a Facebook post, saying, "Instead of acknowledging defeat, the Democratic Party praised itself by saying 'we lost but fought well' and pushed aside the evaluation of the causes of defeat. More precisely, they strategically distorted and misled the process. In this way, the person responsible did not take responsibility but blamed others, rejecting the common sense of the general public through their actions."
Senior three-term lawmaker Lee Won-wook called it a "glory with only wounds," and former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won criticized, saying, "He survives, but the party dies." Former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Lee Seok-hyun also urged self-reflection, stating, "Reform must begin with those who bear great responsibility stepping down."
Various suspicions surrounding Lee have not yet been resolved, which is also mentioned as an obstacle to his future moves. Lee is under investigation regarding allegations of donations to Seongnam FC and the private use of a corporate card by his spouse, Kim Hye-kyung, at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government. Former Democratic Party Supreme Council member Kim Hae-young appeared on SBS election broadcast on the 1st and said, "It is in the interest of the Democratic Party on a small scale and the Republic of Korea on a larger scale that he runs for party leader after the allegations are resolved."
Meanwhile, after his election was confirmed, Lee bowed his head and said, "I was very lacking. I will do my best to meet the expectations of the people with more innovation and a newer image. I will humbly accept the harsh criticism and stern warning from the people."
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