Mass defections of DPK members loom amid feud
Lee Jae-myung denies sidelining antagonists
The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) faces a possible mass defection of members as internal feuding intensifies over the party’s nomination process for the April 10 general elections.
Tensions have reached a peak after Im Jong-seok, former President Moon Jae-in’s chief of staff, was rejected from running in his stronghold constituency.
However, in response to the potential wave of departures, DPK leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung has reiterated his stance, maintaining that the nomination process is transparent. He denies speculation of sidelining members who do not align with him. He even stated, “Quitting the party is one’s freedom.”
Sul Hoon, a five-term lawmaker critical of Lee, left the party on Wednesday, protesting his placement in the bottom 10 percent of lawmakers in an evaluation of legislative performance. He perceived this penalty as a de facto obstacle preventing him from winning party primaries.
“I am leaving the DPK, where I have served for over 40 years,” he said during a press conference at the National Assembly. “The party has now become solely focused on flattering the leader and gaining recognition from him for candidate nominations, rather than engaging in productive debates on how to improve people’s lives.”
The lawmaker told reporters that more DPK members are expected to follow his lead, asserting that many are seriously contemplating leaving the party.
Sul is reportedly considering realigning with the Saemirae Party, a newly-launched political group led by former DPK leader Lee Nak-yon, who is also a vocal critic of the current DPK leader.
He was the fourth DPK member to leave the party to protest the alleged unfairness of the nomination process.
Rep. Park Young-soon, who was also listed in the bottom 10 percent list, quit the party on Monday and joined the Saemirae Party.
Last week, Rep. Kim Young-joo, a four-term lawmaker and deputy National Assembly speaker, left the party following her categorization in the lower 20 percent. Similarly, Rep. Lee Su-jin also parted ways with the DPK after the party rejected her bid to run in her current constituency of Seoul’s Dongjak-B.
Also on Wednesday, Im urged the party’s Supreme Council to reconsider its decision to exclude him from the Jung-Seongdong District in Seoul. The rejection of Im’s application to run in his stronghold, where he served two previous terms, has exposed the party’s feud between the pro-Lee faction and those close to Moon.
“I want to ask the party leader and the Supreme Council. Can we really win the general elections going in this direction?” Im said during a press conference at the National Assembly.
He left open the possibility of defection, saying he will make the final decision after hearing back from the party leadership.
While a potential mass exodus of its members is feared to disrupt the DPK’s election campaign, the chairman remained somewhat indifferent.
“Individuals have the freedom to withdraw from competition midway if they find the rules unfavorable or anticipate losing. However, it is inappropriate to suggest that there is an issue with the rules of the game,” Lee told reporters, Wednesday, implying that his party’s nomination rules are fair.
He also said that clashes and protests are inevitable during periods of generational shifts and the selection of candidates that resonate with the public’s perspective.