Democratic Party's 'Undervaluation Coming Out' Flood... "Is It About Creating a 100% Pure Lee Jae-myung Party?"

Members of the Democratic Party of Korea who received low evaluations from the party’s nomination management committee are consecutively revealing this fact and expressing their opposition.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 21st, Democratic Party lawmaker Song Gap-seok held a press conference to disclose that he was notified of being in the bottom 20% of incumbent lawmakers. Song said, "I have received the first-class award from Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, as well as the National Assembly Legislative Award, which is considered the most honorable award for members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, for three consecutive years." He added, "Only two people have won this award three years in a row, yet it is laughable that I am ranked in the bottom 20% within the Democratic Party."

Song introduced, "After the leader of the non-Lee (非明) faction, who vowed to end my political life, disappeared from my constituency, a person called the mentor of Leader Lee was brought in as the sponsor chairman for one of the remaining candidates." Regarding this evaluation, he said, "I will not apply for a reconsideration," but added, "I don’t know if they will even allow a primary, but I will participate in the primary." He lamented, "What is hard to endure and control is not my situation but the Democratic Party’s defeat," and said, "I cannot bear or suppress the situation where we fail to judge the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and become sinners of history."

Regarding the leadership’s responsibility, Song said, "Although it is a desperate statement, the realistic possibility is low," and stated, "Right now, we must put forward the most competitive candidate in every region. Regardless of whether the person is pro-Lee, non-Lee, or pro-Moon, the party must unite under the single principle of nominating the most competitive candidate to achieve the public’s desire to judge the regime and win the general election."

Democratic Party lawmaker Park Young-soon also confirmed through a press conference that he was included in the bottom 10%. After the press conference, Park said, "Unless Leader Lee intends to completely turn the Democratic Party into a 100% pure Lee Jae-myung party and exclude all opposition, such nominations cannot be made," and added, "Even now, this nomination should be nullified and the mistakes corrected." Park raised his voice, saying, "Everyone involved in this nomination should resign and step down to the second line."

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Han-jung also disclosed that he was included in the bottom 10%. At a press conference, Kim said, "It is hard to accept," and expressed, "I feel devastated having to wear the label of ‘bottom 10%’ and participate in the primary." He stated, "I will overcome the primary and fulfill the duties assigned to me." In a meeting with reporters, Kim added, "I have applied for reconsideration," but said, "I don’t have high expectations."

Earlier, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Kim Young-joo, along with lawmakers Park Yong-jin and Yoon Young-chan, publicly revealed that they received low evaluations and pointed out the unfairness. Deputy Speaker Kim declared his resignation from the party, while Park and Yoon expressed their intention to face the primary despite the disadvantage.