Lee Jae-myung announces new plans to run for Democratic Party's chairmanship

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Lee Jae-myung announces new plans to run for Democratic Party's chairmanship

Published: 17 Jul. 2022, 18:09 Updated: 18 Jul. 2022, 11:18

Democratic Party Rep. Lee Jae-myung announces his bid to run for the party’s chairmanship on Sunday at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, nearly four months after losing the presidential election. [NEWS1]

Democratic Party (DP) Rep. Lee Jae-myung, who lost the presidential election last March, declared his bid to run for the party’s chairmanship on Sunday, vowing to lead his party back to the forefront.

The DP is scheduled to hold a national convention on Aug. 28 to elect a new chair.

Lee made the announcement during a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, nearly four months after his defeat to Yoon Suk-yeol, who was backed by the People Power Party (PPP). Lee lost by only 0.73 percentage points, making the race the most contested presidential election in Korean history.

The DP experienced more major losses in the following June 1 local elections when the PPP won 12 of 17 key metropolitan mayor and provincial governor races, as well as five out of seven parliamentary by-elections.

Of the two parliamentary seats that the PPP didn’t win in June, the one that represents Incheon’s Gyeyang-B district went to Lee.

DP members who oppose Lee blamed him for both defeats and argued he should take full responsibility by retiring from politics.

“Many people expressed concerns about my political future and tried to stop me from running for the party’s chairmanship,” Lee told reporters in the Sunday press conference. Nevertheless, Lee said he was willing to devote his life and “political future” to serving the country.

Lee said he was fully responsible for defeats in both the presidential and local elections earlier this year, but that fleeing from the issues festering in his party wasn’t the way to show he was taking responsibility. Rather, Lee said he would solve the issues through actions, not words.

“The truly responsible action is to not ignore the party’s hardships, but to unite the will of the people and party members who love the DP to create a new DP that wins,” said Lee.

Lee blamed the right-leaning Yoon administration for failing to protect people’s livelihoods, saying he would search for “people-centered” practical solutions to improve the local economy and win back public trust.

Lee said he would lead the DP toward victory in the 2024 general elections for lawmakers, stressing that if he fails to create a “winning DP,” it would mean “the end to Lee Jae-myung’s calling of the times.”

Lee also mentioned he would distance himself from “factional politics” and help create an environment of “integrated politics” within the DP.

The DP is largely split between those who support Lee and those who don’t.

Those who support him argue that he is the only person within the DP that can unify the divided party, especially with his recent by-election victory.

Those who are against Lee have accused him of running for parliament to get immunity from arrest. By law, lawmakers cannot be arrested or detained while the National Assembly is in session without parliamentary consent.

Lee, a former mayor of Seongnam in Gyeonggi, has been accused of being involved in a land development scandal in Daejang-dong, Seongnam, during his time as mayor. He has denied all allegations.

BY LEE SUNG-EUN [lee.sungeun@joongang.co.kr]