Why Are There Lingering Rumors of 'Lee Jae-myung's October Resignation' Even Among Pro-Myung Factions?

Controversies Continue Over Resignation Rumors, Non-Candidacy Speculations, and Warrant Issues
"Depends on Judicial Action... If Lee Is Detained, the Game Changes"

The aftershocks of the 'October resignation rumor' about Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, which emerged from some quarters of the political sphere, continue. The resignation rumor envisions Lee stepping down in October after Chuseok and reorganizing the leadership under Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Doo-kwan to contest the general election.

Pro-Lee (pro-Lee Jae-myung) figures dismiss the resignation rumor as mere "jirashi" (rumors). Jang Kyung-tae, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, appeared on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs' on the 3rd and said, "There was talk about members of the Cheoreomhoe gathering to recruit lawmaker Kim, but I am also from Cheoreomhoe and a Supreme Council member, and this is really the first time I’ve heard of it," adding, "There are many jirashi in Yeouido, but this (resignation rumor) is a rather cheap jirashi. The information has little value."

Jeong Cheong-rae, also a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, said, "Hasn't the rumor about Lee's resignation been circulating all year long?" and added, "Some gossipers say the resignation rumor is a 'novel,' but I think it’s not even a novel." Jeong appeared on the YouTube channel 'Kim Eo-jun's Humility is Difficult News Factory' and denied the rumor, saying, "A novel requires three elements: characters, events, and background. Among Lee, lawmaker Kim, and myself, none of us have such thoughts."

He also asserted that next year's general election will be held under Lee's leadership. Jeong said, "There is always talk about expanding the moderate and external base, but if Lee is not there, the core supporters won’t show up at the polls," adding, "Expanding the moderate and external base is a secondary or tertiary issue, and since the enthusiasm and loyalty of the core supporters determine the general election, Lee is a necessary and sufficient condition."

However, despite the strong denials from pro-Lee figures, the continued mention of the resignation rumor could be seen as indicating that Lee’s leadership is wavering. The resignation rumor was first mentioned by Jang Sung-chul, director of the Public Opinion Center, on MBC Radio at the end of last month, but speculation about Lee’s position, such as the 'August warrant rumor' and 'not running in the general election rumor,' continues.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Jang, who first mentioned the resignation rumor, said on YTN Radio on the 2nd, "I don’t think the resignation rumor has become a hot topic for several days just because I mentioned it. The rumor about Lee’s resignation has been circulating a lot in Yeouido," adding, "There may have been such discussions, or some people think such discussions are necessary for the Democratic Party to win next year’s election, so these factors may be working together to keep the topic alive."

On the 3rd, Ahn Min-seok, a five-term senior lawmaker of the Democratic Party, appeared on YTN Radio's 'News King Park Ji-hoon' and said, "Right now, the possibility of resignation seems zero, but politics is a living thing, so we don’t know what will happen after Chuseok," adding, "There are nearly two months left, and if the Democratic Party’s approval rating remains stuck in a box range or fails to rise by then, the situation will become very precarious."

Ahn said, "The Innovation Committee is currently floundering, and if it continues to be criticized like this, the situation will become very precarious," adding, "Above all, the judicial processing and outcome of Lee Jae-myung are most important. Even if, by any chance, the prosecution intends to detain him, that would change the entire game."

Yoon Yeo-jun, a conservative elder and former Minister of Environment, also raised the possibility of Lee’s early resignation before the end of the year. Yoon appeared on KBS Radio's 'Choi Young-il's Current Affairs Headquarters' on the afternoon of the 2nd and said, "I’m not sure if it will be October or November, but since the general election must be held next year, I think Lee Jae-myung will bring about a change in his personal status at some point," adding, "I don’t think they will contest the election in this state."