Minju Strives to Resolve Internal Conflict... Will They Field Bimyeong Faction in the General Election?

Nomination TF: 9 out of 11 Members Are Non-Establishment
Interpreted as a Gesture to Promote Party Unity
Focus on Party Position Reshuffle and Floor Leader Election

The Democratic Party of Korea is putting forward non-Lee Jae-myung (Bi-Myung) faction figures ahead of next year's general election. This move is interpreted as an effort to quell concerns about potential election defeat raised inside and outside the party amid the prolonged judicial risks faced by Representative Lee Jae-myung, and to reconcile internal party conflicts.

On the morning of the 15th, Lee Gae-ho, head of the party's nomination system task force (TF), said on CBS Radio, "Whether one receives a nomination or not is a matter of participating in the party primary or nomination review based on fair game rules for anyone." Regarding the proposal to add a 'party member opinion poll' as a quantitative evaluation item for party audits on incumbent district lawmakers and regional committee heads, which was discussed by the party's Innovation Committee, he said, "There is absolutely no intention to discuss it."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Nomination TF Activated, Full Deployment of 'Bi-Myung' Faction as a Gesture of Lee's Reconciliation

Lee, considered part of the Lee Nak-yeon faction within the party, leads the newly launched 'Nomination System TF' and is responsible for establishing the nomination criteria for next year's general election. After a large number of defections occurred during the rejection of the arrest motion against Representative Lee last month, some within the party showed signs of cracking down on the Bi-Myung faction by reflecting party sentiment in party audits, but Lee blocked this move. Of the 11 members of the Nomination System TF, 9 are Bi-Myung faction lawmakers.

Regarding the possibility of former emergency committee member Park Ji-hyun, who received a petition for expulsion from the party's hardline supporters, receiving a nomination, Lee said, "Because it is a fair game rule, one must have sufficient experience, career, or corresponding qualifications to win the competition. Judgment will be made if an application is submitted in that regard."

The day before, Representative Lee also said at the first meeting of the Nomination System TF, "Next year's general election will decide whether we prevent regression to the past or move toward the future," and urged, "Please create a nomination system that all party members can accept." He added, "It is a very important task to establish a rational and transparent nomination system that everyone within the Democratic Party can agree on." This is interpreted as a special order to avoid unnecessary disputes over the general election nominations amid internal party conflicts divided between the pro-Lee and Bi-Myung factions. The day before, at the central party office in Yeouido, he met with about 200 party members and urged restraint in internal attacks. This was a direct intervention by Representative Lee in response to criticism that some hardline supporters' attacks on the Bi-Myung faction had gone too far. He emphasized, "We must minimize hatred toward comrades within and direct that firepower outward."

Lee evaluated Representative Lee's remarks as "very natural" and said, "I felt a belated regret that it would have been better if he had said that a little earlier." He added, "All the diverse voices are surely out of loyalty to the party. I think his remarks mean that we must understand that and move forward together to win the big battle next year."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Lee Gae-ho, vice chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea's Basic Social Committee, are shaking hands at the 1st plenary meeting of the Basic Social Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 14th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Bi-Myung Faction Advances... A Turning Point in the Floor Leader Election

Starting with the Nomination TF appointments, attention is focused on whether the Bi-Myung faction will advance in future party position reshuffles and the floor leader election. The Bi-Myung faction has been raising responsibility issues regarding Representative Lee and demanding bold party position reshuffles from the party leadership. However, the party leadership has not expressed a position, stating, "There has been no discussion."

On the same day, Hong Ik-pyo, classified as a pro-Lee Nak-yeon faction member, appeared on KBS Radio and said regarding party position reshuffles, "It is common for party position reshuffles to occur about one year into the party leader's two-year term," and added, "If there is a need for a party position reshuffle in preparation for the general election, I think it should be changed accordingly."

However, he emphasized, "There is no need to specify positions like secretary-general or strategy planning committee chair. We should listen to opinions and overall determine who can truly do the job well in the general election. The person suitable for innovation and election victory should take the position," and added, "It is much more important whether the person has the capability and experience to fit the position rather than whether they are close to Representative Lee or not."

The Democratic Party's approval ratings have declined following the vote on the arrest motion against Representative Lee. As there are calls to change the party's face in preparation for the general election, this is interpreted to mean that party position reshuffles could occur depending on future public opinion trends.

This atmosphere is expected to make the floor leader election a turning point. Potential candidates for the next floor leader election scheduled for May include Ahn Kyu-baek (4-term), affiliated with the Jeong Se-gyun faction; Park Kwang-on (3-term), considered part of the Lee Nak-yeon faction; Lee Won-wook (3-term), from the Bi-Myung faction; and Yoon Kwan-seok and Hong Ik-pyo (3-term), who have somewhat less factional color, as well as Kim Doo-kwan (2-term). It remains to be seen whether the election will take the form of a factional proxy battle between maintaining the current system and filling Representative Lee's absence. Hong said, "The floor leader will be very important going forward," and added, "The first task is to lead the party stably and efficiently centered on the party leader."