Lee Jae-myung Returns to Party Affairs... Park Sung-jun: "Lee Will Devote Himself to Preparing for the General Election"

Challenges Including Mass Resignations and Nomination Controversies in Bimyeong Faction
"A Natural Period of Chaos Before the General Election"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, returned to party affairs on the 17th, 15 days after the attack incident. As the People Power Party proposed political reform measures appealing to public sentiment, such as reducing the number of lawmakers centered on Emergency Response Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon and no nomination in case of responsibility, political attention is focused on how and where Lee, who returned to party affairs, will handle the pressing tasks of the Democratic Party.

Park Sung-jun, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' on the same day and revealed that Lee plans to focus primarily on preparing for the general election. While Lee was in the hospital, many tasks accumulated within the Democratic Party. Former leader Lee Nak-yeon left the party and is preparing to establish 'Saeroun Mirae' (New Future), and three lawmakers from the non-Lee Jae-myung faction (Bi-Myung faction) in the 'Principle and Common Sense' group declared the founding of the 'Future Grand Alliance.' Another Bi-Myung faction member, lawmaker Lee Sang-min, joined the People Power Party on the 8th. Issues such as electoral system reform and nomination disputes also remain.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Spokesperson Park stated, "Only three of the four members of 'Principle and Common Sense' left the party, which proves that the grounds claimed by 'Principle and Common Sense' lost their legitimacy," adding, "The intra-party reforms they advocated were for their own nominations." He continued, "There are concerns about future defections, but who would leave the party now? While someone who loses competitiveness during the upcoming general election process might knock on another party's door, I believe there is no such case at this point."

He also said, "Before the general election, there is always a period of confusion within the party, including factional struggles and nomination conflicts," and added, "This is a time when declarations and action guidelines on how we should proceed to fight the election emerge, so various voices naturally come out." Spokesperson Park added, "So far, Lee has delivered a unifying message, saying 'Let's go together' and 'Only by fighting as a united front can we win this general election.'"

Meanwhile, Lee, who returned to party affairs, presided over the Supreme Council meeting and a talent welcome ceremony consecutively on the same day. Meeting with reporters in front of the National Assembly main building, Lee said, "Compared to the realistic difficulties and pains that everyone in the world experiences, what I went through might be trivial," and added, "Many people must have been surprised at the beginning of the new year, but I will do my best to fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to me and the people."