'Anti-Lee Jaemyung Stance' Lee Nakyeon Shunned Even in Hometown Yeonggwang

Possibility of a Big Tent with the Conservative Bloc Ignites Local Fury
Critical Banners Spread, Amplifying Angry Voices Across the Region
Even Local Political Figures Like Lawmaker Jung Jinwook Join the Criticism
Attempted to Calm the Situation by Withdrawing from the Big Tent, but Resentment Remains
Seen as Siding with Martial Law Forces... Alienating Local Residents

The group "Yeonggwang Youth" issued a statement criticizing former Prime Minister Lee Nakyeon's recent political activities at 11 a.m. on the 8th in front of Yeonggwang Intercity Bus Terminal. Photo provided by the source

Once referred to as the "post-Kim Daejung," Lee Nakyeon, Senior Advisor of the New Future Democratic Party, now finds himself unwelcome even in Yeonggwang, South Jeolla Province?his hometown and the birthplace of his political career. This situation has arisen because his recent political moves, despite his status as a major political figure in the Honam region, have thoroughly disregarded local sentiment.

At 10:30 a.m. on May 14, in front of a village in Baeksu-eup, Yeonggwang, a county-designated bulletin board stood. As this board is operated by the county, several banners promoting the region or publicizing policies were displayed. Among them, one banner stood out, reading, "Lee Nakyeon is the shame of my hometown Yeonggwang. Stop exploiting Honam for your own gain."

This banner directly reflected the anger of local residents toward Senior Advisor Lee, who, up until just a few days ago, had been pursuing a "pan-anti-Lee Jaemyung" big-tent alliance with figures like former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo since around April.

It is estimated that the first banners criticizing Senior Advisor Lee began appearing in Yeonggwang on May 8. On the same day, a group of young people in their 20s and 30s, known as "Yeonggwang Youth," held a press conference criticizing Lee Nakyeon. According to local residents, banners condemning Senior Advisor Lee were subsequently put up throughout the area.

A banner criticizing the political actions of Lee Nakyeon, Senior Advisor of the New Future Democratic Party, installed on a bulletin board in front of a village in Baeksu-eup, Yeonggwang County. Photo by Shim Jinseok

Although it is difficult to determine the exact number, there are 69 designated bulletin boards in Yeonggwang County, and it was explained that banners related to Senior Advisor Lee were installed on at least half of them. The unrest in local sentiment also reached the political sphere.

Jinwook Jung, a Democratic Party lawmaker whose hometown is Yeonggwang (Gwangju Dongnam-gap), posted a photo of one of these banners on his Facebook page on May 11, along with a brief message: "A message from the elders of my hometown Yeonggwang to Lee Nakyeon," expressing his own feelings.

After Senior Advisor Lee announced his intention not to run for president and to withdraw from the big-tent alliance with the conservative bloc around May 10, most of the banners were reportedly removed. In fact, when visiting about 20 bulletin boards in Yeonggwang on that day, only one banner related to Senior Advisor Lee was still displayed.

While some said that the negative atmosphere toward Senior Advisor Lee had temporarily subsided, local residents still harbored lingering resentment.

One resident, who has lived in the area for over 30 years, said, "I told them to take down the banners quickly because it was embarrassing for the neighborhood, but is there anyone in Yeonggwang who actually likes Lee Nakyeon?" indirectly expressing discomfort.

In fact, Yeonggwang is the place that launched Senior Advisor Lee's political career. It allowed him to serve four terms as a National Assembly member and gave him strong support when he was elected governor of South Jeolla Province. Even when he left the Democratic Party last year, locals tried to understand, believing there must be a political purpose.

The main reason why Yeonggwang residents, who had always offered unconditional support, turned their backs on Senior Advisor Lee is that his recent political actions, which lacked clear justification, completely ignored local sentiment.

In 2021, during the Democratic Party’s presidential primary, Senior Advisor Lee raised the Daejang-dong allegations against then-candidate Lee Jaemyung. This provided grounds for the conservative bloc to continue attacking Lee Jaemyung to this day.

At the time, this was reluctantly accepted as a political strategy between rivals within the party. However, even after the Yoon Sukyeol emergency martial law incident, Senior Advisor Lee continued to take an "anti-Lee Jaemyung" stance.

Assemblyman Jinwook Jung posted a photo of a banner criticizing Lee Nakyeon, the Standing Chairman of the New Future Democratic Party, installed on a bulletin board in his hometown Yeonggwang, on his Facebook. Screenshot from Assemblyman Jinwook Jung's Facebook page

Furthermore, he repeatedly hinted at the possibility of forming an alliance with conservatives such as Han Ducksoo and Kim Moonsoo (currently the People Power Party's presidential candidate), who were classified as part of the martial law faction. This was directly at odds with local sentiment, which wanted a decisive reckoning for those responsible for the emergency martial law. Criticism erupted, with many saying, "He has betrayed even the minimum sense of duty to the party and supporters he once belonged to."

The shock was even greater for Yeonggwang residents who had supported Senior Advisor Lee for nearly 20 years. There were self-deprecating laments that the pride of Yeonggwang had now become its disgrace.

A political figure from Yeonggwang, who requested anonymity, said, "Among local residents, there is a growing sentiment that Lee Nakyeon has done nothing for Yeonggwang. We supported and cheered for him, hoping only for his success, even though we received nothing in return."

He continued, "Regardless of whether it is Lee Jaemyung or the Democratic Party, those who imposed unconstitutional martial law?Yoon Sukyeol and the forces defending him?are still directly or indirectly participating in this presidential election. I cannot understand Lee Nakyeon, who tried to join hands with them. We hoped he would become a great statesman, but in the end, he became a politician who only thinks of himself," he sharply criticized.