'Makgeolli Dinner' Meeting Ahead for 'Lee Jae-myung - Lee Nak-yeon'... Conditions for Coexistence?

Private Dinner on the 12th
Reconciliation of Pro-Myeong and Anti-Myeong Conflicts, Seeking Coexistence Solutions

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and former party leader Lee Nak-yeon are set to hold a private dinner meeting, drawing attention from the political sphere. Especially amid the intense factional conflict between the 'Pro-Myung (Pro-Lee Jae-myung) faction' and the 'Anti-Myung (Anti-Lee Jae-myung) faction,' it is being closely watched whether the two leaders, who serve as the focal points of the 'Pro-Myung - Anti-Myung' divide ahead of next year's general election, can find a way to coexist within the party.

According to political circles on the 11th, there is a recent analysis that a mainstream shift is taking place within the Democratic Party. Unlike in the past when the Honam region base dominated the party mainstream, it is now claimed that the mainstream has changed to a form combining the 586 generation.

For example, the results of a survey conducted by Realmeter commissioned by Media Tribune (June 19-23, nationwide 2,510 men and women aged 18 and over, with a sampling error of ±2.0 percentage points at a 95% confidence level; for details, refer to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website) show that in Gwangju and Jeolla, traditionally classified as the 'Democratic Party stronghold,' support for the Democratic Party stands at 59.0%. In Seoul, it was 38.9%, and in Incheon and Gyeonggi, 48.1%. Even in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, considered 'conservative strongholds' opposite to the Honam region, the Democratic Party's support rate was 41.5%.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Recalling that in the 21st National Assembly election, the Democratic Party candidate support rate in the Honam region exceeded 70-80%, the decline in support in the Honam stronghold is notable. During former leader Lee Nak-yeon's tenure, the party's mainstream force was 'region'-based, but since Lee Jae-myung took party leadership, support from a specific age group has become distinct. In the same survey, the Democratic Party received 57.1% support from those in their 40s. Considering the population size, the party has built a support base of over 4 million people just among those in their 40s (8.2 million).

However, Lee Jae-myung still faces the challenges of party unity and winning the general election. Even though the strong support from the 40s age group bolsters the Lee Jae-myung regime, there remains the task of reconciling and integrating conflicts within the party, especially among incumbent lawmakers centered in the Anti-Myung faction.

Nevertheless, there are still differing views inside and outside the party regarding the meeting between Lee and former leader Lee. Pro-Myung faction lawmaker Jeong Seong-ho said on YTN radio that morning, "There is some consensus between the two regarding party unity and innovation," adding, "I think the two will share opinions."

On the other hand, lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon, classified as Anti-Myung, said on SBS radio, "Their thoughts might be a bit different now," and added, "There is nothing to expect in terms of content." Another Anti-Myung faction lawmaker, Lee Sang-min, also said, "It is necessary to reform the still existing distorted and malicious fandom political culture within the party," and added, "They need to come up with a solution on how to do this."

The role of former leader Lee Nak-yeon around next year's general election is also a point of interest. There is speculation about the possibility that Lee Jae-myung might appoint Lee Nak-yeon to an important position when the party forms the election campaign committee at the end of this year or early next year when the nomination outline becomes clear. Additionally, if Lee Jae-myung's legal risks resurface and the party shifts to a caretaker leadership system, there is a possibility that Lee Nak-yeon might have to replace Lee Jae-myung.

Um Kyung-young, director of the Era Spirit Research Institute, said, "Attention will also be focused on negotiations over shares of nomination rights," and predicted, "Considering each other's future political possibilities, they will inevitably have to make such calculations."