Kim Jong-min, Lee Won-wook, Jo Eung-cheon Leave Democratic Party... "Founding New Party to Break Established Powers"

"Breaking the Entrenched Political Power... Someone Must End the Winner-Takes-All"
New Party Plan to Be Announced as Early as the 12th... Growing Momentum for the Third Zone
Yoon Young-chan of the Same 'Principles and Common Sense' Chooses to Stay

On the 10th, Kim Jong-min, Lee Won-wook, and Cho Eung-cheon, members of the reformist group 'Principles and Common Sense' who had been urging Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, to resign, declared their departure from the party. However, Yoon Young-chan decided to remain in the party. The three lawmakers leaving the Democratic Party plan to take steps to unify the third-zone new party forces into a 'big tent.' They are expected to announce a more detailed roadmap for the new party's establishment as early as the 12th.

Kim Jong-min, Lee Won-wook, and Cho Eung-cheon held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office in the morning to declare their departure. Kim said, "Today, we leave the Democratic Party and throw ourselves into the greater sea of public sentiment," adding, "If we had considered political gains and losses, we would not have taken this path." He criticized, "We must judge the arrogance, unilateralism, incompetence, and irresponsibility of the Yoon Seok-youl administration, but we cannot do so under the Lee Jae-myung regime."

The 'Principles and Common Sense' group, a non-Lee Jae-myung faction within the Democratic Party of Korea, consisting of Cho Eung-cheon (from the left), Lee Won-wook, and Kim Jong-min, is holding a press conference on leaving the party at the National Assembly on the 10th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Lee said, "In the last presidential election, the people chose two candidates who were not tainted by Yeouido politics to judge the entrenched political powers," but pointed out, "Both Yoon Seok-youl's and Lee Jae-myung's politics have failed." He added, "Over the past two years, our people have witnessed the worst 'winner-takes-all' entrenched politics they have never experienced before," emphasizing, "Someone must break this trend."

Immediately after declaring their departure, the three lawmakers revealed plans for the 'new party' to reporters. They intend to gather all forces opposing entrenched politics.

Kim emphasized again, "Anyone who participates in breaking entrenched powers is welcome, but they must be willing to relinquish their own entrenched interests and be determined to change Korean politics." Cho added, "Principles and Common Sense will be a platform where all like-minded people can come together," and "We want to join forces with those who can let go of entrenched powers and focus on reforms toward the future."

Members of the Democratic Party's non-Lee Jae-myung faction group 'Principles and Common Sense,' Lee Won-wook (from left), Kim Jong-min, and Cho Eung-cheon, are answering questions from the press after concluding a press conference on leaving the party held at the National Assembly on the 10th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

'Principles and Common Sense' plans to continue dialogue regardless of factions, including the new party faction led by Lee Jun-seok, Yang Hyang-ja, and Geum Tae-seop. In response to criticism that 'there have been precedents where new party alliances split over ideological issues after elections,' Cho said, "The platforms and policies proposed by the Democratic Party and the People Power Party are such that no one would agree once you look beyond the titles," adding, "This is a public process of openly flirting over policies, visions, and values in front of the people." Kim also cautioned against overinterpretation, saying, "Other than cooperating with forces to break entrenched powers, nothing has been decided regarding alliances."

He also hinted at the possibility of joining forces with former leader Lee Nak-yeon. Lee Nak-yeon, who has been working behind the scenes after officially declaring the establishment of a new party, is expected to announce his departure on the 11th. Kim said, "If I propose to former leader Lee to engage in new politics, I believe he will join," adding, "Besides him, many others who have longed for new politics will be able to join."

On the day before 'Principles and Common Sense' announced their departure, an interim proposal called the 'early unification election committee' was reportedly presented within the party. Floor leader Hong Ik-pyo led efforts to dissuade the lawmakers from leaving. Lee said, "I promised the people today that I would leave the big house and go to a place without even a hut," and added, "Regarding the issues related to the unified emergency committee's demands, the leadership's request to wait without clear judgment could send a signal that breaks trust before even starting in front of the people, so I rejected it."

The 'Principles and Common Sense' group, a non-Lee Jae-myung faction within the Democratic Party of Korea, members Lee Won-wook (from left), Cho Eung-cheon, and Kim Jong-min are conversing ahead of a press conference on leaving the party held at the National Assembly on the 10th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Contrary to their emphasis on 'joint action,' all three expressed regret but remained tight-lipped about Yoon's last-minute decision to stay. It was reported that Yoon decided to remain after much deliberation until the morning. Some speculate that after Hyun Geun-taek, deputy director of the Democratic Research Institute and a pro-Lee Jae-myung faction member preparing to run in Seongnam Jungwon District, was embroiled in a sexual harassment controversy, Yoon judged that staying in the party would allow him to protect his constituency. However, Kim dismissed this, saying, "I do not think he decided to stay for that reason."

With the departure of 'Principles and Common Sense' lawmakers accelerating the division within the Democratic Party, the third-zone new party faction appears to be gaining momentum. Although realignments before general elections have been a recurring phenomenon, analysts say this third zone, involving former leaders from both ruling and opposition parties, is different from the past. In a situation where the approval ratings of the two major parties remain stagnant, if a 'third-zone big tent' encompassing both conservatives and progressives is formed, the new party's influence is expected to grow significantly. Incumbents leaving the Democratic Party during the candidate qualification screening process are also expected to join.

Meanwhile, Lee Jae-myung was discharged around 11 a.m. that day, stating, "We must end this war-like politics where we have to kill and eliminate the opponent." It has been eight days since he was attacked with a weapon while inspecting the site of the new airport in Gadeokdo, Busan, on the 2nd. He plans to continue treatment at home for the time being, and the exact timing of his return to party duties has not been decided. However, since the general election campaign is in full swing, an early return is anticipated.