[Current Affairs Show] Park Wonseok: "New Lee Jaemyung Supporters Resemble Past Moon Loyalists"

Lee Taekyu: "Much More Serious Situations Could Emerge at the Democratic Party Convention"
Park Wonseok: "At Its Core, This Is a Power Struggle and a Debate Over Lineage"

■ Broadcast: The Asia Business Daily "So Jongsup's Current Affairs Show" (Mon-Fri, 4-5 PM)

■ Host: So Jongsup, Political Specialist ■ Producer: Lee Miri

■ Guests: Park Wonseok, former Justice Party lawmaker, Lee Taekyu, former People Power Party lawmaker (June 29)

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So Jongsup: Last weekend, the hottest topic was author Yoo Si-min's "Reconstruction" remarks. Some say it was a fierce criticism of President Lee Jaemyung. Today, Hong Ikpyo, Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs at the Blue House, even mentioned redevelopment... What are your thoughts?

Lee Taekyu: He sees President Lee Jaemyung as a tenant, with himself as the owner of the Democratic Party building. Why is the tenant trying to tear down and rebuild the house without the owner's permission? So I think this has moved beyond a pro-Lee versus anti-Lee feud to a full-blown battle over the Democratic Party's legitimacy. It has escalated to an almost all-out civil war over who the real owner of the Democratic Party is.

Democratic Party: Battle to Create a New Mainstream or Defend the Existing Mainstream

I see this as a fight between creating a new mainstream or defending the existing mainstream. Through the party convention this August, will the Democratic Party be able to generate new energy for unity, or will it merely continue with an uneasy cohabitation regardless of who wins? Or, at worst, could this become a precursor to real division and fragmentation? It has reached a point where we must seriously watch how far this overheated and intense situation will go. If the convention ends in this state, I foresee a nomination massacre in 2028.

Judging by the current behaviors and the language used, it's clear that the Democratic Party has a long history of nomination purges. Last time, anti-Lee figures were wiped out; next time, depending on circumstances, it could be the pro-Lee camp. In fact, from an outsider's perspective, the identity, direction, and vision of the next Democratic Party remain unclear. It's not simply a question of "New Lee Jaemyung" versus "pro-Moon," but a struggle over what direction the Democratic Party, with its long history, will take in the future. On the surface, the contenders are Kim Minseok and Jeong Cheongrae, but it seems that President Lee Jaemyung and Yoo Si-min, along with Kim Eo-jun, are waging a proxy war.

That's why the candidates on the ground are refraining from making radical statements. While both sides appear to talk about unity and solidarity, in reality, President Lee Jaemyung and author Yoo Si-min—who can be seen as the forces behind the scenes—are fiercely waging an air war. From the President's perspective, he wants to secure stable control of the party so he can win re-election and retire safely. This is crucial for his own security. It's clear that he is determined to secure the party's hegemonic power at this convention. From Yoo Si-min and Kim Eo-jun's point of view, if they lose here, there won't be another chance.

Is It President Lee's Lame Duck Period or the Ouster of the 586 Generation?

That's why this is bound to be extremely intense. The key question is whether President Lee Jaemyung will fall into a lame duck period, or whether the 586 activist faction, which has long dominated the Democratic Party, will be ousted. I think the public is watching these developments with keen interest.

Author Yoo Si-min's "Theory of Reconstruction" is causing ripples within the ruling party, leading to debates over the identity of the Democratic Party.

So Jongsup: Former Assemblyman Park, what do you see as the essence of these "reconstruction" remarks?

Park Wonseok: The essence is a power struggle. I don’t think that’s avoidable. But is a power struggle a bad thing? Not necessarily. It’s always there—everywhere in human society—and it’s an inherent feature of political parties. The problem is when that’s all there is. There have to be other productive elements as well. Here, I see it as a clash between new and old forces. Of course, there are differences in worldview: one side values the Democratic Party’s traditional principles, sentiment, and narrative, while President Lee Jaemyung is someone who did not grow up within that typical environment. As a local government chief, he built his own political base on the periphery and made it to the presidency.

The Essence Is a Power Struggle, with Distinct Worldviews Between the Two Factions

As a result, their perspectives on politics differ, as do their forces. Their blueprints for the Democratic Party’s future direction and vision are also different. Author Yoo Si-min raised four main issues: First, the delay in enacting prosecution reform, arguing that the President is insufficiently committed to the Democratic Party’s mission. Second, the neglect of insults against former presidents and the appointment of those involved. Third, the defeat of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party and Cho Kuk himself. Fourth, interference in the party convention. He described these as abnormal signs.

But most of these issues are unrelated to the Democratic Party’s future. They are either about the past or about the current positions and hegemony of the figures involved. While we previously discussed the transformation of the AI industry and technological innovation, these are monumental changes, and politics faces critical challenges in adapting to them. Yet, there is little attention paid to these issues. In the end, it’s a debate over lineage.

So Jongsup: A debate over lineage?

The "Extension, Reconstruction" Metaphor Ultimately Refers to a Lineage Debate

Park Wonseok: “What’s your bloodline? You’re not of the legitimate line, so why are you trying to replace the legitimate line?” That seems to be the thinking. From the perspective of Yoo Si-min and Kim Eo-jun, President Lee Jaemyung is the rolling stone (the tenant), while they are the embedded stones (the owners). The rolling stone is trying to dislodge the embedded stones and act as the owner. I think that’s what the extension and reconstruction metaphors refer to. If there were no convention, the reaction wouldn’t have been this intense.

On the 28th, Kim Minseok, Prime Minister, and Jeong Cheongrae, former leader, who are competing for party leadership, attended the Democratic Party Youth Elected Officials Workshop held at Gonjiam Resort in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News

So Jongsup: Because the nomination rights are at stake...

Park Wonseok: Because nomination rights are at stake and this convention could reshape the Democratic Party’s power structure, they have become even more sensitive and are insisting on asserting their ownership. They are telling the rolling stone to roll on. Yoo Si-min has raised the alarm—calling on the pro-Roh and pro-Moon factions nationwide to mobilize. He has declared all-out participation. I think this clash is inevitable. If this energy is channeled positively, it could lead to a new, united version of the Democratic Party. If it goes to extremes, the party could split, as happened with the Uri Party in the past.

During the debate over track suits and white pants, Yoo Si-min led the “eviction squad.” Yet, he claims only he can do so, and anyone else brought in is an outsider—does this make sense? It’s hypocrisy. Remember how Yoo Si-min treated President Kim Dae-jung? He openly told the sitting president to go home and rest. His current actions are all about his proximity to power. When he is close to power, he is satisfied and praises the powerful. He used to lavish praise on President Lee Jaemyung. Now that he has lost his chance to regain proximity to power, he is reacting irascibly. That’s all I see.

The Democratic Party Could Face a Much More Serious Situation

Lee Taekyu: The essential work of creating a “New Lee Jaemyung Party” revolves around nominations, and of course, this requires broad support from party members and the base. That’s the work currently underway. After the election, the President directly said it was an election they should have won but lost, sending a specific message that Jeong Cheongrae’s bid for re-election as party leader was undesirable. Party members and supporters seem to be accepting this positively.

This, in turn, shows that there is no organized opposition or ideology within the Democratic Party strong enough to challenge the authority and power of President Lee Jaemyung in his second year in office. Yoo Si-min and Kim Eo-jun may be feeling an even greater sense of crisis because of this. The convention could certainly overheat even further, and there is a high probability that incidents will occur that may cause public disapproval.

The traditional Democratic Party factions, especially the 586 activist group that has long dominated the party, could realistically be forced out. If the party members and base now feel the Democratic Party needs to change and opt for a new version by choosing President Lee Jaemyung, this could bring about major changes and potentially new vitality and a broader horizon for the party. Because, in the current situation, both factions just coexisting is like stagnant water—it lacks vitality.

President Lee Jae-myung is entering the Cabinet Meeting and Emergency Economic Inspection Meeting with Prime Minister Kim Minseok and Chief Secretary Kang Hunsik at the Blue House on the 30th. Photo by Yonhap News

Park Wonseok: I believe the Democratic Party needs to change. The Democratic Party is not a modern party. Its ideology, values, and policies remain dominated by an anti-democratic worldview. This leads to a culture of memory, narrative, demanded loyalty, mobilization, and polarization—politics built on creating battle lines. But that is not what the future era demands. That’s not a governing code or perspective. It’s a kind of salvation-narrative politics: endless struggle against “the great evil.” This isn’t governance.

The Democratic Party Must Move Beyond Politics of Struggle; "New Lee Jaemyung" Is Similar to "Daekkaemun"

How long will they continue to pursue prosecution reform? The institutional work is nearly complete—is it worth making this much fuss over one supplementary investigative right? These things need to change. Whether it’s reconstruction or redevelopment, some transformation is necessary. But what is the ideological or policy substance of the new force? It's unclear. They talk about “New Lee Jaemyung” and pragmatic centrism, but pragmatism is a methodology, not a value or identity. Centrism is just a position on the ideological spectrum; it doesn’t define the future.

Moreover, is Prime Minister Kim Minseok “new”? Is Assemblyman Song Younggil “new”? These figures have just joined the Lee Jaemyung camp—they’re not new. Even those brought in as supposed symbols of expansion, like Lee Eonju and Kim Yongnam, are questionable as true symbols of growth. In that sense, there are many limitations. On top of that, the passion—and at times fanaticism—of the so-called “New Lee Jaemyung” supporters closely resembles that of the “Daekkaemun” camp in the past. Today’s “New Lee Jaemyung” could become tomorrow’s “Daekkaemun.” That’s a weakness. This is why the struggle is disorderly—almost like a brawl. If things go wrong, the party could split or, even if not formally divided, descend into a psychological civil war, with both sides constantly at each other’s throats. That would shake the administration as well. Even if President Lee Jaemyung wants to govern well, in this environment it would be impossible.

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So Jongsup: How likely do you think this trend will lead to a split in the ruling party?

Lee Taekyu: There are emotional undercurrents, of course. But it depends on the margin of victory. If party members sort things out, those on the losing side probably won’t have the justification or grounds to break away and start a new group, so I think it’s likely they’ll remain within the party. Still, we’ll have to watch and see.

This is a poor showing for a ruling party’s pre-convention phase. There is no vision or sense of direction from anyone. It’s pure factionalism, with tribalism at work. I believe this is a serious problem for a modern democratic party. As the governing party, there are many national issues and directions that deserve discussion. They should be showing responsible leadership, but that’s entirely missing right now.

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