Democrats' Growing Calls for 'Lee Jae-myung's Decision'... "Obsessed with Shielding"

On the 6th, Urging 'Party Innovation' at the Principles and Common Sense Press Conference
Emphasizing 'Decision' Toward Representative Lee Jae-myung
Son Hak-gyu on 'Alternative Theory': "Isn't There Anyone to Be Party Leader?"

With the general election five months away next year, voices demanding the resignation of Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, are growing louder. Criticisms range from accusations that the party has become a personal party since Lee's inauguration to claims that the dominance of a fervent fandom politics prevents diverse opinions, urging Lee to make a 'decision.'

'Principles and Common Sense,' an innovation group of the Democratic Party's non-Lee faction, held a press conference at the National Assembly on the 6th, stating, "All policies and visions of the Democratic Party have been buried under 'shielding the party leader,'" and criticized, "The risks posed by the party leader cover up all the failures of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, and a hostile symbiosis maintained by Yoon Seok-yeol due to the Lee Jae-myung leadership dominates Korean politics."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

They said, "Since the launch of the Lee Jae-myung party leader system, our party has exhausted all its efforts responding to prosecutorial investigations such as the search and seizure of the central party office, summons of the party leader, and the processing of the party leader's arrest consent," adding, "In the meantime, there was a reversal of the party leader's declaration to give up immunity from arrest, and even the election law promised to the public is now at a crossroads of regression." They continued, "The true mission and task of the Democratic Party is to rally public sentiment to judge the Yoon Seok-yeol administration in the general election," proposing to create a unified Democratic Party through bold alliances with the progressive camp and various civil society forces.

After the press conference, Representative Kim Jong-min urged reporters that Lee should actively work for party unity. Kim said, "As the general election approaches, it is principle and common sense that even factions that were once at odds come together to form a unified scrum," and added, "Although the Democratic Party won in Gangseo-gu, it is arrogant and untrue to think the general election will be an overwhelming victory."

He also said, "Looking at recent situations, when listening to the concerns and worries expressed by former leader Lee Nak-yeon, former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, and civil society about the Democratic Party, it is clear that none of these voices are being reflected," warning, "With such arrogance, victory in the general election is impossible." He further stated, "We must quickly move away from the idea that 'we can win the general election with only Lee Jae-myung's Democratic Party,'" and emphasized, "(Lee) must make a decision for unity. Unity is not just gathering close friends."

Representative Yoon Young-chan welcomed Lee's recent Facebook message calling for internal unity and integration for the general election, saying, "It is something to be welcomed," but added, "It should not end with a simple message; there are many tasks to be done." Yoon said, "It is very important to put those tasks into practice, meet many people, listen to their voices, and accept changes within the party."

Not only 'Principles and Common Sense' but also senior figures within the Democratic Party are raising their voices urging Lee to make a decision.

On the same day, Son Hak-gyu, senior advisor of the East Asia Future Foundation, said on CBS Radio, "Lee Jae-myung must make a significant decision for the country." Son criticized, "Because of him (Lee), the Democratic Party is tightly bound by so-called judicial risks and cannot do anything," adding, "There are strong supporters outside the National Assembly, but there are also many reckless remarks inside. Politics must have dignity, but this dignity has been completely destroyed." This is interpreted as a statement pressuring Lee to resign as party leader.

Regarding the 'absence of alternatives to Lee Jae-myung' theory raised by some within the party, he said, "Is there no one else who can be the party leader?" and explained, "In the current system, no one can say anything about the party or Lee Jae-myung, so they say there are no alternatives."

'Principles and Common Sense' plans to hold a rally with citizens who hope for party innovation in the large conference room of the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 10th, where they will reveal the contents that Lee must accept. They stated, "We will take the first step to form a human chain with party members and citizens who earnestly wish for party innovation."