Representative Jeon Hyun-hee of the Democratic Party of Korea announced that she would register as a candidate for the supreme council member at the party’s convention set for August. She declared, “I will become the chief lawyer who is always by Lee Jae-myung’s side.” Someone vying to be part of the nation’s main opposition party’s leadership uttered such flattering words. She is not the only one. Rep. Lee Un-ju, who announced her candidacy the day earlier, also praised Lee, calling him the irreplaceable presidential candidate. They seem ready to attack anyone else stepping forward as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate.
All ten candidates for the supreme council have made similar declarations of loyalty. “I will be the head of Lee Jae-myung’s governing plan,” Rep. Kim Min-seok said. Rep. Kang Sun-woo pledged to “usher in the era of Lee Jae-myung’s presidency,” and Rep. Han Jun-ho referred to Lee as the leader who “created a party where party members are the owners.” Regardless of who gets elected among the five top supreme council members, the new Democratic Party leadership will become an ardent “pro-Lee Jae-myung” party. If that’s the case, what’s the point of electing new supreme council members?
The Democratic Party’s convention held two years ago was also dominated by “pro-Lee” figures, but even those not aligned with Lee managed to secure leadership roles. However, most of the non-Lee factions who had been keeping Lee in check were excluded during the nomination process for the general election in May. Their positions were filled with pro-Lee members, transforming the Democratic Party into a “one-man party for Lee Jae-myung.”
Lee’s stronghold is reinforced by his fervent supporters, also known as ‘dog daughter,’ short for ‘daughter of reform.’ Any politician targeted by Lee’s supporters faces the risk of jeopardizing their political career. These supporters have been bombing non-Lee figures with texts, pressuring them to drop out of the race ahead of the August convention. Voices of the non-Lee faction have almost disappeared from the Democratic Party.
Lee is expected to run for a second term as party leader. The convention is considered the party’s crown jewel event, a platform for presenting diverse visions for the party’s future. A political party in a democracy has more than one vision. The Democratic Party of Korea should be no exception.
But currently, there is no real competition for the party leadership. “If you run for party leader now, you’ll only serve as a supporting actor for Lee,” said former Democratic Party lawmaker Yoo In-tae. The convention has turned into an event to endorse a specific individual. Previously, in the election for the party’s floor leader, pro-Lee Park Chan-dae was elected unopposed.
A party supreme council member recently said, “Lee Jae-myung is the father of the Democratic Party.” Now, the party’s supreme council candidates are busy competing to praise Lee. This has stifled internal dissent, with any opposing opinions quickly silenced by text bombing from Lee’s hardline supporters. How is the party’s current state any different from the political climate in North Korea or China? The Democratic Party has complete control over the National Assembly, and now even elections within the party are becoming meaningless.
