Will Next Year's General Election Be Under the Lee Jae-myung Regime?... Voices for an Orderly Withdrawal Weaken

Hong Jun-pyo Skeptical About Possibility of Lee Jae-myung Regime Collapse
Lee Won-wook: "Next Year's General Election Will Be Held Under Lee Jae-myung Regime"

The momentum behind the so-called 'orderly resignation theory' that had been raised inside and outside the Democratic Party is weakening. It is highly likely that the 22nd general election on April 10 next year will be held under the current leadership of Representative Lee Jae-myung. The reason for the low possibility of a change in the Democratic Party leadership is related to changes in the political environment.

On the 13th, Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu Metropolitan City, responded on the communication channel 'Youth's Dream' to the question, "Although the possibility is low, if Lee Jae-myung does not maintain his position as party leader until the general election, who among Lee Nak-yeon, Chung Sye-kyun, and Kim Boo-kyum do you think is suitable as the emergency committee chairman of the Democratic Party?" by saying, "Could the Lee Jae-myung regime collapse?" This indicates a forecast that the Lee Jae-myung leadership will be difficult to collapse before next year's general election.

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Won-wook also said in an interview with YTN's 'News Live' on the same day, "Next year's general election will be held under the Lee Jae-myung leadership," adding, "It is undesirable, but if Representative Lee does not make a decision himself, there is no way to make him step down."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is conversing with Supreme Council member Jeong Cheong-rae at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Regarding the criticism of the Lee Jae-myung regime, he emphasized the role of the Innovation Committee as a substitute for an answer. Lawmaker Lee said, "The Innovation Committee should judge and evaluate the reasons why the Lee Jae-myung regime has lasted one year and why the Democratic Party has lost moral trust and (support rates) are falling. Only then will problems emerge, and only then will it be clear what needs to be innovated," adding, "I hope the Innovation Committee led by Kim Eun-kyung will focus on this issue and do it properly."

The 'orderly resignation theory' is intertwined with Representative Lee's judicial risks. When Representative Lee said in March, "I can do anything to win the general election," opinions arose that he should take responsibility for the party's internal strife, resign voluntarily, and the general election should be held under an emergency committee system. At that time, the appropriate timing for Representative Lee's resignation was suggested to be from early autumn to the end of this year.

Last month, Representative Lee declared the 'waiver of immunity from arrest' and took a direct approach to confront judicial risks.

However, as the general election approaches, the possibility of internal discord within the Democratic Party remains. Former Representative Lee Nak-yeon, upon returning to the country, started his political comeback by saying, "I will fulfill the responsibilities I have not yet completed," and on the 5th, he also criticized the Democratic Party under the Lee Jae-myung leadership, saying, "The Democratic Party has been greatly lacking in meeting the people's expectations. We must regain public trust through genuine innovation."

Among the non-Lee Jae-myung faction (Bi-Myung faction) that demanded a transition to an emergency committee system, there are even talks of a party split. On the 3rd, Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Sang-min hinted at the possibility of a split, saying, "Shouldn't we be prepared for an amicable separation?" Although the party leadership viewed his remarks as inappropriate and issued a stern warning, criticism of the Lee Jae-myung regime is expected to continue as even the Innovation Committee, launched to resolve internal party issues, is unable to exert influence.

Within the Democratic Party, attention is focused on the message that will come from the postponed 'Myeong-Nak meeting.' When the two leading presidential candidates of the Democratic Party meet, discussions on party issues such as unity and innovation are expected to take place. Representative Lee emphasized the one team spirit, saying about former Representative Lee Nak-yeon's return, "These are difficult times when even a blank sheet of paper must be lifted together, so everyone must join forces."