Eonju Lee Rejoins Democratic Party... Jaemyung Lee "Welcome Back to Hometown"

"Return to the Democratic Party After 7 Years of 'Conservative Shift'
"Excited by the Ahn Cheol-soo Phenomenon... My Judgment Was Short-Sighted"
Pro-Moon Faction Backlash... Likely to Face Pressure to Run in a Tough District"

Former lawmaker Lee Eon-ju declared her return to the Democratic Party after leaving the People Power Party last month, marking her re-entry after seven years. Lee had shifted to conservatism by leaving the Democratic Party in 2017 and joining the People’s Party, Bareunmirae Party, and then the United Future Party in 2020.

On the 16th, Lee held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office, stating, "I intend to join my comrades in the Democratic Party, my political roots, to judge the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and uphold the great cause of setting the Republic of Korea straight." She added, "I will entrust everything to the party and its members and move forward together." She also said, "I left the Democratic Party dreaming of new politics, excited by the Ahn Cheol-soo phenomenon," and "I remembered my colleagues who warned me during difficult times in the wilderness."

Former lawmaker Lee Eon-ju, who left the People Power Party, is holding a press conference at the National Assembly on the 16th to declare his return to the Democratic Party of Korea. [Image source=Yonhap News]

She continued, "As the eldest sister of Generation X, so-called the 789 generation, I have the responsibility to represent the common sentiments and worldview of the 789 generation," explaining her reason for rejoining the party. "I cannot stand by as authoritarianism privatizes power and even destroys the public systems of the state." She emphasized, "The essence of this general election is to decide how much to check the remaining three years of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration," and asked, "If not the Democratic Party, then who can stop this reckless rush?"

Right after her re-entry announcement, when asked by reporters about running for a local constituency, she replied, "I will entrust everything to the party and its members." Regarding internal opposition, she said, "Many things have happened in the meantime, and I have heard many voices of concern and criticism. I will continue to listen carefully."

Lee then immediately moved to the main office to have a private talk with party leader Lee Jae-myung. Lee Jae-myung welcomed her, saying, "Welcome back home," to which Lee Eon-ju responded, "I will contribute to judging the Yoon Seok-yeol administration." When reporters repeatedly asked about criticism from the pro-Moon faction, she dismissed it by saying, "Isn't it no longer the Moon Jae-in administration now?" and added, "The living power is the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, and there is no need to fight so much over historical evaluations and criticisms of the past Moon Jae-in administration." However, she also said, "I will accept past criticisms of me gracefully and reflect if I have done wrong."

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung is seen seeing off former lawmaker Lee Eon-ju, who visited the National Assembly representative office after a press conference declaring his return to the party on the 16th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, party leader Lee Jae-myung had called Lee Eon-ju in mid-last month to encourage her to rejoin. However, strong opposition arose within the party. The general assessment is that there is considerable resistance due to her so-called 'right-wing' political moves, past criticisms of former President Moon Jae-in, criticisms of the Democratic Party, and various controversies. Moreover, amid escalating tensions between pro-Lee and pro-Moon factions over the causes of the last presidential election defeat, Lee’s re-entry at Lee Jae-myung’s invitation, given her anti-Moon background, is seen as a factor that could further fuel opposition from the pro-Moon faction.

Within the leadership, there were opinions that if Lee rejoined, she should either not run in the general election or run in a difficult constituency. On the 29th of last month, floor leader Hong Ik-pyo pressured her to effectively not run in the general election, saying, "There is a need to show a spirit of putting the party before oneself."