"Orderly Resignation Theory Is Collusion"... Opposition Parties Debate Lee Jae-myung's Resignation Theory

Kim Du-kwan "Mentioning resignation aligns with Yoon Seok-yeol administration"
Voices also support orderly resignation theory
Next floor leader election expected to be a turning point

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, has faced calls for a 'orderly resignation' involving the launch of an emergency response committee to contest the general election if he steps down by the end of the year. However, Representative Kim Doo-kwan has openly opposed this. He argued that since Lee is a victim of the prosecution's investigation, raising the issue of Lee's responsibility is a 'collusion.'

On the 15th, Representative Kim criticized the 'orderly resignation' theory directly through social media (SNS). He cited historian Jeon Woo-yong's remarks to refute the party's internal calls for Lee's responsibility.

The statement Kim quoted is as follows:

"When the story of a student who was verbally bullied by a 'prosecutor's son' and attempted suicide became known, people were angry at the 'prosecutor's son' and his father. However, when stories of people who were verbally bullied by a 'prosecutor' and took 'extreme measures' come to light, people do not get angry at the 'prosecutor' and his 'boss' but instead hold others responsible. It is truly a strange phenomenon."

Kim said, "This strange phenomenon is being reproduced exactly within the Democratic Party," adding, "The prosecution's investigation into Lee has long crossed the line. It is not an investigation but judicial murder and a political assassination dance aimed at removing opposition for re-election. If you are a Democratic Party member, you should stand against wrongful investigations, not discuss the leader's resignation as an excuse for such investigations."

He stated, "I oppose Lee's resignation," and added, "Mentioning resignation is tantamount to siding with the oppression by the Yoon Seok-yeol prosecution regime." Kim also said, "Most of the charges being pinned on Lee relate to policy decisions made as a local government head," emphasizing, "If judicial standards are applied to policy decisions, politics will have no place to stand."

Kim defined the 'orderly resignation' theory as "a collusion and conspiracy among politicians within the Democratic Party who want to enjoy vested interests for generations," and said, "I cannot understand how such anti-democratic ideas can emerge within the Democratic Party."

He recalled historical experience, saying, "I know from historical experience how such old habits have driven the party into crisis," referring to the nomination process during Han Myeong-sook's leadership. Kim said, "Although it was the late Lee Myung-bak administration, 99% of incumbent lawmakers were re-nominated, resulting in a crushing defeat in the general election," and asked, "Do our party members have to watch such vested-interest collusion again?"

Kim also expressed that "the newly elected floor leader should be someone who will dismantle the party's vested interests centered on Lee and focus all efforts on legislation for people's livelihoods to lay the groundwork for victory in the general election."

Kim is currently mentioned as a pro-Lee candidate for the floor leader within the Democratic Party. His public criticism of the orderly resignation theory appears to further strengthen his pro-Lee stance.

Kim Doo-kwan, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea's Gyeongnam Provincial Party Committee, is delivering the opening address at the Yeongnam Region Joint Debate and Resolution Meeting for Election Law Amendment held at the National Assembly Library on the 5th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Besides Representative Kim, various arguments opposing the orderly resignation theory exist within the party. As the prosecution's investigation phase has moved into the trial phase, some predict that Lee's leadership will rather stabilize. Hong Ik-pyo, a Democratic Party lawmaker mentioned as a floor leader candidate, said on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs,' "Following the arrest consent motion and the unfortunate incident involving the chief of staff during Lee's time as Gyeonggi Province governor, it is true that the party situation was negatively affected," but added, "As the situation became difficult, efforts to restrain divisive remarks and prevent further internal conflict have spread recently because further division could lead to a greater crisis for the entire Democratic Party."

Hong also left open the possibility of a calm response as Lee's related trial moves to the judiciary. He said, "The prosecution's time has passed, and now it is the judiciary's time to be more balanced and public," and added, "If we focus on raising issues such as livelihood reform tasks in the National Assembly and preparing for next year's general election, I believe we can compete sufficiently with the public."

On the other hand, voices supporting the orderly resignation theory remain. Lee Gae-ho, head of the Democratic Party's General Election Nomination System Task Force, said on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that the orderly resignation theory is "quite reasonable and close to the truth," adding, "I have heard that Lee himself said that for next year's general election victory, we must be able to choose whatever is necessary. He will judge and decide by seeing what is advantageous."

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Better Future-Party Leader Meeting held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 15th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Critics of Lee expect the upcoming floor leader election to be a turning point. A second-term Democratic Party lawmaker told this outlet, "The immediate task is how much we can shed the image of a shield party," adding, "Regarding personnel, Lee has made all the supreme council members running mates and formed a pro-Lee faction, but now we have to see whether the floor leader will also be from the pro-Lee camp."

In fact, after the vote on the arrest consent motion, the Democratic Party has been embroiled in severe internal conflict, and attention is focused on the next floor leader election. Since the last party convention, the Democratic Party leadership has leaned toward the pro-Lee faction, and whether the floor leader comes from either side will determine if internal checks and balances are possible.