'Lee Jae-myung Leadership' on the Test... "This General Election is a Judgment on Power"

First Statement After a Fortnight Return... "Emphasizing Judgment on Yoon Administration"
Challenges Including Serial Defections, Personnel Verification, and Assassin Nominations
"Cannot Be Killed by Law, Pen, or Sword... Will Conduct Fair Nominations"

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, returned to party affairs two weeks after being attacked. Upon his return, Lee defined the upcoming general election as "a midterm evaluation of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and a judgment on power." He is expected to reconcile internal party conflicts and accelerate preparations for the general election.

On the morning of the 17th, Lee met with reporters on his way to the National Assembly and said, "I will do my best to fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to me and to our people." However, he did not respond to questions about the recent wave of party defections, electoral system reform, personnel verification issues, or the controversy over 'assassin' nominations beyond his brief greeting.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is greeting as he arrives at the National Assembly on the 17th, two weeks after the attack. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Lee immediately presided over a Supreme Council meeting and sharply criticized the government and ruling party. Comparing his attack incident to the situation on the Korean Peninsula, he pointed out, "The government and ruling party seem unaware of how a hostile, confrontational, and unaccepting social atmosphere endangers the lives of our people and the future of the Republic of Korea." He added, "Looking at the Yoon Seok-yeol administration over the past two years, the economy has worsened, security has deteriorated, and people's livelihoods have declined," and strongly criticized, "The law, which should be equal for all citizens, is regressing into an abnormal country where certain individuals receive special privileges."

He linked this 'crisis theory' to the general election. Lee said, "Democracy is a country where the will of the people is respected and the people are treated as the owners," adding, "However, politicians and public officials who have been entrusted with power by the people are wielding that power recklessly as if it were their own." In particular, he emphasized, "They have tried to kill me by law, by pen, and now by knife, but I will never die," and stated, "I will do my best to unify and show new hope through fair and innovative nominations that meet the people's expectations."

Both his brief greeting and remarks at the Supreme Council meeting after two weeks are interpreted as signaling his intention to reconcile internal conflicts and focus on preparing for the general election. Lee faces numerous challenges ahead of the election, including the controversy over 'assassin' nominations and electoral system reform, which is expected to maintain the 'mixed-member proportional representation.'

With Lee's return to party affairs, the 'judicial risk' has also resurfaced. This is because the trial schedule, which was postponed after the attack, is set to resume. As he must address various controversies facing the party while simultaneously dealing with his own legal issues, his concerns are expected to deepen.

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 17th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

A senior lawmaker said, "Lee Jae-myung's return was an inevitable choice," adding, "Although his close aides tried to dissuade him, I understand that his intention to return was strong." He continued, "In a situation where defections among incumbents have begun, failing to achieve party unity will be fatal in the general election," and added, "During the full-scale nomination review, the controversy over 'pro-Lee assassin' nominations must be quelled to prevent further defections and to check the third political bloc."