Lee Nak-yon, the former Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), announced his departure from the party. The ex-leader said, “The DPK has already become a ‘strange home’,” and added, “The spirit, values, and dignity of former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun have disappeared, and it has deteriorated into a one-person party dominated by violent and vulgar actions, transformed into a bulletproof party.”

During a press conference at the National Assembly on Jan. 11, Lee said, “After dedicating 24 years to the DPK, I’ve chosen to step away and explore a new path from a different vantage point.” Having served as a five-term member of the National Assembly, governor of South Jeolla Province, and the inaugural Prime Minister in the Moon Jae-in administration, he has been a steadfast member through events like the Uri Party split in 2003 and the establishment of the People Party in 2016.

Reflecting on his decision, he remarked, “Departing from the DPK, which has felt like home, is truly a poignant experience.”

Lee Nak-yon, the former Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), announcing his departure from the party and the plan to establish a new party at a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul on Jan. 11, 2024./News1

Lee stated, “For Korea to thrive fully, it cannot sustain the current political structure dominated by inept and corrupt major parties, which continue extreme struggles for survival. We need to break away from the duopoly of hatred and animosity, transitioning to a multi-party system based on compromise and reconciliation.” He likened the prevailing political structure led by major parties to the words of Confucius in the Analects: “A rotten tree cannot be carved.”

Expressing his intention to consolidate strength in the “Third Political Realm,” Lee referred to the former leader of the People Power Party (PPP), Lee Jun-seok, who defected from the party. He said, “I am willing to cooperate with anyone” and emphasized the need to unite forces, acknowledging that breaking the duopoly of the major parties is a challenging task.

Addressing concerns about ideological differences with Lee Jun-seok, he dismissed, “I am much closer to him than to the DJP (Kim Dae-jung and Kim Jong-pil) coalition.” He said, “Since both of us have experienced being party members and leaders in the major parties, we understand the drawbacks of the duopoly system better. A new political endeavor grounded in such reflection is more likely to be fruitful.”

On the same day, Lee mentioned in a CBS Radio interview that he had a “secret meeting with Lee Jun-seok earlier this month,” describing their encounter as a “new model for generational integration.”