[2023 Click Political Figures] Lee Nak-yeon Starts Political Comeback... Emerging 'Plan B'

Movement Detected Centered on 'NY-gye' Figures
Individual Also Starts Activities with SNS Messages
Party's 'Chinmyeong-gye' Voices Caution

Editor's NoteThe year 2023, the Year of the Black Rabbit, has dawned. The political landscape of a ruling party-minority opposition government following last year's regime change is expected to witness fierce power struggles between the ruling and opposition parties this year as well. We have selected 10 politicians to watch closely as they attempt to solve the complex political equations in Yeouido.

Within the ruling party, the Democratic Party of Korea, the term 'Plan B' is continuously being discussed. This is due to the increasing reality of party leader Lee Jae-myung's judicial risks. Although Lee asserts his innocence and has expressed his intention to confidently cooperate with the prosecution's investigation, his name is already being mentioned as a candidate for the next party leadership.

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, who competed against Lee Jae-myung in the last presidential primary, is considered the top candidate. Especially if he returns to Korea by June this year, or even earlier, it is expected that he will resume political activities. His return could rapidly emerge as another alternative force threatening Lee's leadership.

'Stable Five-Term Lawmaker' Approaching the Threshold of Presidential Candidate

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Nak-yeon joined Dong-A Ilbo in 1979 and worked as a journalist for 21 years. While working as a political reporter, he built a close relationship with former President Kim Dae-jung. After being elected in the 16th general election in 2000, he was consecutively re-elected four times. During his term as Governor of Jeollanam-do in 2017, he was appointed as the first Prime Minister of the Moon Jae-in administration and subsequently served the longest term in that position. As Prime Minister, he responded stably to various disaster situations and demonstrated sharp rhetoric during parliamentary questioning sessions, effectively countering opposition lawmakers, which earned him nationwide recognition.

However, he temporarily suspended his political activities after losing to Lee Jae-myung in the party's 2021 presidential primary. Lee Nak-yeon distanced himself from Yeouido politics after departing for Washington, D.C., USA, last June.

Consolidating the NY Faction? Lee Nak-yeon Warms Up

"Stepping down as party leader could be one option."

Shortly after Lee Jae-myung received a summons from the prosecution, rumors of Lee Nak-yeon's return surfaced. Particularly, plans for 'pro-Lee Nak-yeon' lawmakers, including Representative Seol Hoon, to visit the United States this month to meet with Lee Nak-yeon have been reported, fueling speculation that Lee is preparing for a political comeback. In November last year, 'Solidarity and Coexistence,' a think tank associated with Lee Nak-yeon, was reportedly reactivated. Representative Seol recently openly urged Lee Jae-myung to resign during SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' saying, "Declaring that you will fight alone and return, and stepping down as party leader could be one way."

Officially, Lee Nak-yeon denies the 'early return' rumors. However, his recent active political engagement on his Facebook page is seen as a signal of his political re-entry.

Most of his messages contain criticism of the current government, which is a significant point. Examples include: "I hope the government and politics will soon awaken to the reality of the complex crisis" (December 4, 2022), "South Korea is currently losing its direction... A complex crisis of economy and security is approaching, but it is unclear what kind of deliberations are being made" (December 25, 2022), and "This should not be happening. A leader should lower military tensions and seek paths to peace settlement and national prosperity" (January 3, 2023). It is also reported that those close to him predict his early return within February or March.

'Concerns Over Party Split' Voices Also Heard

On the afternoon of the 10th, Lee Nak-yeon, the General Election Committee Chairman, and candidate Lee Jae-myung encouraged each other at the disbandment ceremony of the Election Countermeasures Committee held at the Democratic Party Central Office in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

However, within the party, the 'pro-Lee Jae-myung faction' still holds the reins, making Lee Nak-yeon's comeback appear difficult. Representative Jung Sung-ho, a pro-Lee Jae-myung lawmaker, strongly countered on TBS Radio's 'Shin Jang-sik's New Business' on the 30th of last month, saying, "There is almost no one who is swayed by or agrees with rumors of a party split, Lee Nak-yeon's comeback, or Kim Kyung-soo's role. No one in the Democratic Party is currently considering a 'Plan B.'"