Representative Lee to Return to Party Affairs on the 23rd
First Message Expected to Focus on 'Minsheng'
Attention on Disciplinary Action for Pro-Approval Faction and Appointment of Nominated Supreme Council Member
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, will return to party affairs on the 23rd. It has been a month since he stopped his indefinite hunger strike, which lasted 24 days, after criticizing the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's governance on the 23rd of last month. With the timing of Lee's return clearly set, the focus is on whether disciplinary action will be taken against the so-called 'approval faction' who voted in favor of the motion to consent to Lee's arrest. The pro-Lee faction, which led a landslide victory in the by-election for the mayor of Gangseo District, Seoul, views the act of voting in favor as a 'relevant act' and calls for accountability. However, with the general election next year approaching and Lee tasked with party unification, attention is on how he will reconcile the conflict.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, is entering the courthouse to attend the trial on the 17th at the Seoul Central District Court regarding the preferential treatment in the development of Daejang-dong and Wirye New Town and the allegations related to donations to Seongnam FC. He did not respond to reporters' questions. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@
◆Lee Jae-myung Returns to Party Affairs 31 Days After Ending Hunger Strike
On the 19th, Kwon Hyuk-ki, head of the party leader's political planning office, told reporters at the National Assembly, "Lee will attend the trial tomorrow and return to party affairs next Monday," adding, "Lee plans to focus on urgent livelihood issues."
Previously, on August 30, Lee began a hunger strike protest criticizing the Yoon administration's failures and demanding government reform. On the 19th day of the strike, September 18, his health rapidly deteriorated, and he was transported to a hospital. While continuing his hunger strike in the hospital bed, Lee stopped the indefinite hunger strike on the 24th day, September 23, following strong recommendations from medical staff. Since being discharged on the 9th of this month, he has been receiving recovery treatment at home.
Lee's first official schedule upon returning to party affairs 31 days after ending the hunger strike is expected to be the Supreme Council meeting on the morning of the 23rd. He is anticipated to deliver a message to party members and the public through his remarks at the Supreme Council. Based on his previous statements on Facebook and other platforms, he is expected to focus on issues related to the 'livelihood economy.'
Immediately after the Gangseo District mayoral by-election victory, Lee posted on Facebook, "I do not consider this a victory for the Democratic Party. I reflect once again on the complacency, lack of fierceness, and ongoing shortcomings of the Democratic Party, which was once the ruling party, and pledge to devote myself to restoring livelihood, economy, safety, peace, and democracy as a public servant of the people."
The message he released just before starting the hunger strike also centered on 'livelihood.' On August 29, Lee proposed a 'livelihood summit' to President Yoon Seok-yeol, mentioning corporate and household debt, high interest rates, and high prices. He said, "At least until the December regular National Assembly session, let's stop political strife and focus on solving livelihood issues. The core of livelihood is the economy, and the economy is psychology. The president sitting down with the opposition alone would be a signal of recovery."
Recent Democratic Party statements have consistently included messages related to the livelihood economy. On the afternoon of the same day, floor spokesperson Yoon Young-duk criticized, through a written briefing, "Prime Minister Han Duck-soo announced emergency measures targeting kimchi-making ingredients whose prices have risen sharply during the kimjang season," adding, "Is it enough to just control cabbage prices when grocery prices are skyrocketing?" He urged the government to devise comprehensive price stabilization measures. The day before, spokesperson Park Sung-jun demanded livelihood stabilization measures, saying, "With high exchange rates, high oil prices, and rising import prices, the crisis is growing. What is the government doing?" Floor leader Hong Ik-pyo, who has been presiding over meetings in Lee's absence, also called for practical alternatives to reduce transportation costs at the National Assembly inspection countermeasure meeting that morning. It is expected that Lee will emphasize livelihood economic measures as his first order of business upon returning.
Hong Ik-pyo, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the National Assembly's audit countermeasure meeting held on the 19th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
◆Attention on Whether to Discipline the 'Approval Faction'
However, the hottest issue is whether to discipline the party's 'approval faction.' On the 24th of last month, a petition was posted on the Democratic Party's National Response Center demanding disciplinary action against the five members?Kim Jong-min, Lee Sang-min, Lee Won-wook, Seol Hoon, and Cho Eung-cheon?who publicly expressed approval of the motion to consent to Lee's arrest. Within two days, the petition garnered over 50,000 signatures, and the leadership is awaiting a response.
According to the Democratic Party, petitions with over 50,000 signatures must be reported to the Supreme Council. The Supreme Council discusses the subject of the petition, whether it can be answered immediately, and must provide a response within a month. It is understood that discussions on this request are still ongoing at the Supreme Council. Matters related to disciplinary action may be handled separately through the Ethics Tribunal. While some hardliners emphasize disciplinary measures, Lee's position is to hold off on such discussions for now.
The plenary session of the National Assembly scheduled for the 25th, which was tentatively agreed upon by the ruling and opposition parties, was effectively canceled. This followed the approval of the arrest consent bill for Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and the subsequent resignation of the Democratic Party's floor leadership amid factional conflicts. The appointment consent vote for Lee Gyun-yong, nominee for Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, was postponed, resulting in a situation where the judiciary lacks a Supreme Court Chief Justice. The photo shows the empty National Assembly plenary hall. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
On the same day, Democratic Party Supreme Council member Park Chan-dae appeared on MBC Radio and said, "Lee has conveyed that the timing of discussions related to disciplinary action should be held (put on hold)." Regarding reports that "Lee decided not to discipline the approval faction members," he said, "That is not true. There has been no decision not to discipline, nor has there been a decision to discipline."
The reason for postponing disciplinary discussions is interpreted as 'procedural issues.' Council member Park explained, "When a petition receives over 50,000 signatures from party members, it must be referred to the party's Ethics Committee following standard procedures. For referral, it must be reported to the Supreme Council, and once the staff reports it, it should be immediately referred to the Ethics Committee." He added, "Since the report has not yet been made, the leader has not returned, and political judgment remains, there is no need to rush a decision."
Attention is also on the appointment of a nominated Supreme Council member. With the resignation of non-Lee faction lawmaker Song Gap-seok, the question is whether Lee will again nominate a non-Lee faction member to fill the vacancy. Given that the current leadership is centered around the pro-Lee faction, there are calls for a non-Lee faction Supreme Council member who can appeal to moderate voters. However, with disciplinary calls emerging against some lawmakers who voted in favor of the motion to consent to Lee's arrest, how Lee resolves this issue is expected to be the first step toward party unification efforts.
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