Opposition Sets Sail for Extra-Parliamentary Struggle... Counterattack by the Bimyeong Faction

Democratic Party's First Outdoor Protest at Sungnyemun Square on the 4th
Criticism from Within the Party: "Out of Touch with Public Sentiment"
Park Hong-geun: "Dismissal of Lee Sang-min to Be Decided Soon"

[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon and Park Jun-i] The Democratic Party of Korea was engulfed in internal strife ahead of its first outdoor protest scheduled for the 4th at the plaza near Sungnyemun in Seoul. The intra-party conflict surrounding the judicial risks of leader Lee Jae-myung is beginning to surface in earnest.

At the expanded executive meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 3rd, Lee Jae-myung and floor leader Park Hong-geun did not make any separate remarks regarding the 'National Report Meeting' to be held the next day. However, they emphasized the 'livelihood crisis,' condemned the incompetence of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, and reiterated the need to hold Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min accountable ahead of the 100th day since the Itaewon tragedy.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the expanded executive meeting held at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

On the same day, Lee said, "In January, the trade deficit reached a record high of 12.7 billion dollars," adding, "We need to reconsider our trade strategy from scratch and devise a new mid- to long-term industrial strategy. We will prepare a Korean version of the IRA law." He stated, "We must draft a blueprint to lead the competition for carbon neutrality and unmanned technology supremacy," and added, "We will actively support legislation that promotes renewable energy, the Green New Deal industry, and expands related infrastructure." Floor leader Park also mentioned price hikes, trade deficits, and the February heating cost shock, urging the government and ruling party to come up with livelihood measures. Regarding responsibility for the Itaewon tragedy, he explained, "At the party meeting, there was no dissent on holding Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min accountable and on the necessity of investigating First Lady Kim Keon-hee, as new circumstances have been confirmed during the trial process." This was an additional explanation following the failure to push the impeachment motion against Minister Lee at the previous party meeting. He said, "Since the impeachment motion against Minister Lee will be finalized after gathering opinions from members who could not attend the previous meeting, we will promptly organize the party's official stance."

Earlier, at the party meeting held the day before, the party attempted to adopt the impeachment motion against Minister Lee as the party line, but it failed due to internal opposition. It is reported that some members criticized in a closed discussion, saying, "If we continue actions detached from public sentiment, victory in next year's general election will be uncertain." During the more than two-hour free discussion at the meeting, some members reportedly poured out criticism of the current situation of the Democratic Party.

In particular, members of the anti-Lee faction criticized the planned outdoor protest on the weekend of the 4th, which condemns the investigation of Lee Jae-myung, as "actions detached from public sentiment." Member Park Yong-jin reportedly said, "The party's goal should be victory in the general election, but if we engage in outdoor protests, we will lose votes from the moderate electorate," adding, "I am concerned this will lead from the 'Lee Jae-myung shield frame' to a 'refusal to accept the presidential election results frame.'" Member Lee Won-wook said, "The entire party is shaken by the hardline supporters," and "The leadership must first regain its center."

However, regarding the outdoor protest, it is known that there was an opinion not to drag it into a long-term battle. A first-term Democratic Party member said, "The anti-Lee faction members did not say 'let's not hold the report meeting,' but rather, 'if it drags on too long, people will get tired,'" adding, "There was not much disagreement about the outdoor protest. I think even those who criticized it will attend in large numbers."