Park Ji-won: "If President Lee Performs Well but the Party Falters, the Leader Must Take Responsibility"

"Rumors of Discord Likely to Intensify After President Lee's Return"
"Kim Minseok-Song Younggil Alliance Expected to Materialize"

Park Jiwon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, predicted on the 18th that even if Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheongrae and others attend the welcoming event for President Lee Jaemyung following his return from a European tour, rumors of conflict are likely to intensify rather than subside. Park invoked the principle of 'order' in politics and raised the issue of responsibility for leader Jeong.

Appearing on KBS Radio's 'Jeon-gyeok Sisa,' Park anticipated that speculation about discord between President Lee and leader Jeong would become stronger. He said, "Since the party convention is ongoing, the rumors of conflict will only intensify, not diminish." However, he added, "The decision by the Presidential Secretariat to have both leader Jeong and floor leader Han Byungdo greet the president at the airport was very appropriate," and emphasized, "There is no need for the presidential office to fuel conflicts within the party."

Park Jiwon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 4th, declaring his candidacy for the Speaker of the 22nd National Assembly's second term. May 4, 2026. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

The presidential office announced the previous day that at the welcoming event for President Lee's return, "The Prime Minister, the Vice Minister of the Interior and Safety, other government officials, and key Democratic Party leadership, including the party leader and floor leader, will attend."

Park also raised the issue of leader Jeong's responsibility, citing the 'natural order of politics.' He said, "President Lee is currently in a golden time to achieve three major reforms, address the people's livelihoods, and resolve past unrest; it would be wrong to jeopardize this through internal party disputes, so restraint is necessary." He also pointed to some polls in which Democratic Party support was lagging behind the People Power Party, stressing, "Even if the president does poorly, the party leader must take responsibility. All the more, if the president performs well but the party is struggling, it is only natural for the party leader to step down."

Regarding the escalation of internal conflict within the party, Park commented, "This is one aspect of a healthy democratic party," but also noted, "When division becomes apparent everywhere, both the public and party members become anxious."

Meanwhile, Park addressed the potential alliance between Prime Minister Kim Minseok and Assemblyman Song Younggil, both considered possible candidates for the next party leadership. He said, "I have met Assemblyman Song a couple of times, and Prime Minister Kim a couple of times as well, and they have been considering forming an alliance," adding, "It seems likely that the Kim-Song alliance will come to fruition."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.