Lee Holds Meeting with 'The Better Future', the Largest Party Group on the 15th
The Better Future: "We Must Create a New Party Vision and Practical Agenda"
Calls for 'Personnel Reform' Decision to Representative Lee... Lee: "I Will Listen Carefully"
The Democratic Party of Korea, which has been struggling to find a breakthrough amid internal turmoil, is drawing attention as it may attempt to shift the situation with the 'personnel reform' card. Since a mass defection occurred during the vote on the arrest motion for Leader Lee at the end of last month, conflicts within the party have been intensifying. Amid discussions of Leader Lee's 'orderly resignation,' the party's largest parliamentary group on the 15th demanded a 'comprehensive personnel reform' from him.
On the same day, Leader Lee held a meeting with members of 'The Better Future (Deo Mirae),' the party's largest parliamentary group consisting of about 50 current Democratic Party lawmakers, and stated, "I will strengthen communication."
In his opening remarks, Leader Lee said, "It has been just over six months since I took office as party leader, and during that time, I have tried to find time to talk with the members, but it seems that it was absolutely insufficient." He added, "Recently, after meeting with each member and listening to their opinions, I felt as if there was a dotted line, not a solid one, between the party leadership and the lawmakers," expressing regret over the lack of communication so far.
He continued, "Diverse voices within a political party are its essence. If there is only one voice and one thought, it is not a party but an organization," and said, "Therefore, the essence of a party is diversity, and that diversity is the source of synergy." He then promised to strengthen communication, saying, "I will candidly listen to the members of Deo Mirae and also share what I want to say," and "From now on, I will create not only formal and rigid occasions like this but also more comfortable settings."
Recently, Leader Lee met with his strong supporters known as 'Gaeddal' and requested restraint from internal attacks against the anti-Lee faction. Ahead of next year's general election, he has emphasized 'unity' by placing the anti-Lee faction at the forefront of the 'Nomination Task Force' that has been launched.
This move is interpreted as an effort to strengthen internal control and to reconcile the current internal strife, which has escalated into an extreme conflict between the pro-Lee and anti-Lee factions, following the mass defection in the vote on his arrest motion that was narrowly rejected in the National Assembly at the end of last month.
Kang Hoon-sik, leader of Deo Mirae, told reporters after the meeting, "We agreed that communication and reflection are necessary for the Democratic Party to gain more trust from the public," and added, "In a situation where a new image of the party is urgently needed, we conveyed to Leader Lee that a comprehensive personnel reform is necessary and requested his decision."
Kang said, "I told him that the Democratic Party must create a new vision and practical agenda as an alternative party," and "Based on this discussion, Deo Mirae will unite with the party leader and work together to implement these goals."
Earlier, in his opening remarks, Kang said, "(Today’s meeting is) a time to confirm that each member is the Democratic Party and a time to be proud of each other," and "There is no time to conflict and divide over differences in thoughts."
Regarding the 'personnel reform' that Deo Mirae requested Leader Lee to decide on, specific alternatives are expected to be prepared by Leader Lee later. Leader Lee reportedly responded, "I will listen carefully," to this request.
Kang said, "Since the comprehensive personnel reform is a decision requested from the party leader, it is not appropriate for me to specify whether it involves political or appointed positions or who will be replaced," adding, "It is up to the leader to decide."
He added, "Although no deadline was set, I mentioned that given the current situation of the party, we should quickly show signs of change."
Deo Mirae plans to unite and respond firmly if another arrest motion against Leader Lee is brought to the National Assembly in the future. Kang said, "Please interpret this as a statement that we will unite and move forward with Leader Lee Jae-myung." Regarding the voluntary resignation theory of Leader Lee, which is being referred to as an 'orderly resignation' by some, Kang said, "There was no such discussion (today)."
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