[Lee Jun-seok Aftershock] Recruiting Party Members After Disciplinary Action... Is the 'Pro-Lee Jun-seok Faction' Expanding?

Analysis Suggests Efforts to Prevent Party Defections and Rally Three Groups Including New Members
Verification Posts Rise Mainly Among 2030 Supporters... Voices Saying 'We Must Protect Lee Jun-seok'
Um Kyung-young, Director of the Era Spirit Research Institute, Explains "Emphasizing Affection for the Party"

Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, who appeared before the Central Ethics Committee to explain the allegations of 'ordering the destruction of evidence related to sexual bribery,' is leaving the National Assembly's main conference room on the 8th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party who was suspended from party membership for six months, has started recruiting party members. This has led to various interpretations such as "expansion of the pro-Lee Jun-seok faction" and "a sign of not leaving the party."

On the morning of the 8th, Lee posted on his Facebook, "A fast and easy way to become a member of the People Power Party. Online party membership," adding, "If you pledge to pay a monthly party fee of 1,000 won, you can become a responsible party member after three months and participate in the decision-making of the People Power Party. It only takes three minutes." Along with this, he attached a link for online membership registration for the People Power Party.

What draws attention is the timing of the post recruiting party members. On the same day, the People Power Party Central Ethics Committee had earlier decided on a severe disciplinary action of "six-month suspension of party membership" against Lee, who is suspected of instructing the destruction of evidence related to sexual bribery.

As a result, there is an analysis that Lee's recruitment of party members is aimed at expanding the pro-Lee Jun-seok faction within the party. As men in their 20s and 30s who support Lee showed signs of leaving the party in protest against the Ethics Committee's decision, Lee is trying to prevent this and consolidate his faction.

This situation also allows Lee to demonstrate his influence. After Lee posted the membership recruitment message, online communities have seen posts certifying party membership mainly from men in their 20s and 30s who support him. Some of them wrote phrases like "We must protect Lee Jun-seok."

On the morning of the 7th, Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, posted on his Facebook (Photo by Lee, captured from the leader's Facebook).

Professor Park Sang-byeong of Inha University Graduate School of Policy said, "Lee is recruiting party members to show how many responsible party members have joined and to say, 'Look at this. I have this much power, so trying to drive me out is ultimately trying to drive out these people (party members). I will fight alongside them.' It means he is still alive and intends to stick it out until the end," he explained.

According to the People Power Party membership status identified by Asia Economy, as of the 14th of last month, the number of responsible party members in their 20s and 30s was 62,807 and 77,376 respectively, which is more than the 121,342 members in their 40s. Considering that the People Power Party has about 800,000 responsible party members, the proportion of responsible members in their 20s and 30s is about 17%. Unlike general members, responsible party members pay a small party fee (minimum 1,000 won) and have the right to participate as an electorate in internal party votes such as presidential candidate elections and party leader elections. If Lee runs again in the party convention, these members can each cast a vote.

There is also a view that Lee's recruitment of party members expresses his intention to continue working with the People Power Party. Eom Gyeong-young, director of the Era Spirit Research Institute, said, "It might be simpler to see it without overcomplicating things," adding, "I think Lee himself is emphasizing 'I will stay in the party until the end.' It is to emphasize his affection for the party."