Election of Woo Won-sik as Candidate for 22nd National Assembly Speaker
"The Passage of the Arrest Consent Bill Brings Back 'Nightmare' Memories"
After Woo Won-sik, a five-term member, defeated Chu Mi-ae in the Democratic Party of Korea's National Assembly Speaker election and was elected as the candidate for the 22nd National Assembly's first half Speaker, a backlash has been continuing mainly in pro-Lee Jae-myung online communities.
On the 19th, a notice was posted on the fan cafe 'Jaemyung's Village,' where strong supporters of Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung gather, stating that accounts mentioning terms like 'subak' (watermelon) and 'resignation from the party' would be suspended.
Woo Won-sik, who was elected as the Democratic Party of Korea's candidate for Speaker of the National Assembly, is receiving a bouquet from Representative Lee Jae-myung at the elected members' general meeting held on the morning of the 16th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building to select the candidates for the 22nd National Assembly's first half Speaker group. [Photo by Yonhap News]
Right after the election announcement, numerous backlash comments such as "Proof that there are still subaks in the Democratic Party" and "I will resign and join the Jokuk Party" were posted in the cafe, escalating the situation, which seems to have prompted this measure. 'Subak' is a derogatory term used in pro-Lee communities targeting anti-Lee factions, meaning someone who is different on the outside and inside.
The political circles are reacting to this Speaker election as a surprise. Chu, who was expected to become Speaker with the support of hardline supporters like 'Gaeddal' (Daughters of Reform) and key figures in the pro-Lee faction, ended up losing.
Especially, since until just before the election, the dominant view within the party was that the leader Lee Jae-myung's intention (Myeongsim, 明心) leaned toward Chu, the pro-Lee supporters who effectively orchestrated the coordination for Chu's candidacy are believed to be experiencing considerable frustration.
The frustration of party members turned into anger, and the arrows of anger were also directed at the Democratic Party's elected members. One Democratic Party member said, "After Woo was elected, we have been receiving protest 'text bombings' from unknown party members," adding, "The messages mostly say 'It's a betrayal' and 'We will watch closely.'"
Another Democratic Party member said, "Although it is incomparable to the time of the leader Lee's 'arrest motion,' we are receiving texts asking 'Please tell us who you voted for,'" and "Some people even send messages saying 'Don't expect to be elected next time.'"
A post calling for the identification of votes cast for Representative Woo Won-sik in the National Assembly Speaker election is appearing on the Democratic Party of Korea member board 'Blue Wave'. [Photo by Blue Wave capture]
On internet communities, posts such as "Please share the phone numbers of the 22nd National Assembly members" and "Can I know the list of members belonging to the Euljiro Committee, which Woo belongs to?" have also appeared.
In particular, on internet communities, there were posts demanding the disclosure of the list of elected members who voted for Woo, saying "We need to find 89 people." In the Speaker election held on the 16th, 169 out of 171 elected members of the 22nd National Assembly participated, and it is known that 89 of them voted for Woo.
This is not the first time that hardline supporters have attacked Democratic Party members or elected officials. In the September last year, during the approval of the arrest motion against leader Lee, they pressured anti-Lee faction members by sending text bombings.
Meanwhile, leader Lee commented on Chu's defeat, saying, "The Democratic Party is opening the first path to prove the values of a democratic republic through a party centered on its members," adding, "As we walk this first path, we may get wet from the dew and hurt by passing blades of grass."
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