Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the ‘3rd National Action Day and Civil Society Solidarity Rally to Condemn Kim Kun-hee and Yoon Seok-yeol for State Affairs and Call for a Special Prosecutor’ held on the road in front of Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on the 16th. / Photo = News 1 After Lee Jae-myeong, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, was sentenced to suspended imprisonment in the first trial for violating the Public Official Election Act, the ‘loyalty competition’ within the party towards Lee appears to be becoming more active. A ‘dramatic statement’ was made to keep non-world forces in check, sparking controversy, and remarks that seemed to deify Representative Lee continued.
On the 18th, Representative Lee Hae-sik, Chief of Staff to the Democratic Party leader, posted on his Facebook page an image of Representative Lee giving a speech at an off-site rally along with a post titled ‘From the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius.’
Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor and philosopher, and the last of the Five Emperors of Rome. The ‘Meditations’ he wrote was mainly written in the battlefield, and it is interpreted that the situation in which Representative Lee is undergoing a total of four trials, including the case of violating the Public Official Election Act for which he was sentenced in the first trial, is compared to ‘war’. Photo = Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Hae-sik’s Facebook In an excerpt from his meditation book, he said, “These people who make efforts to become better human beings are God’s priests and God’s servants,” and indirectly compared Representative Lee to ‘God’s priest’ and ‘God’s servant.’ .
He continued, “By listening to the divinity within, he is not polluted by pleasure, is not hurt by any pain, and is not harmed by any insult. He is a fighter who confidently fights a noble fight, is not caught up in passion, and pursues justice.” He also introduced the phrase, “It’s filling my heart.”
Previously, on the 16th, pro-Myung faction lawmaker Choi Min-hee caused controversy by saying to the non-Myung faction, “If you move, I will kill you.”
Rep. Choi met with YouTubers after the Democratic Party’s third outdoor rally held in the Gwanghwamun area on this day and said, “It is not important what ruling is made, but the key is ‘whether the Democratic Party is divided or not.'” He added, “The division within the Democratic Party, which was holding its breath again, is not important.” “I think this will determine whether this situation will be overcome depending on whether the party acts or not, or whether the Democratic Party will not be able to break through and will be divided,” he said.
At the same time, he warned, “Some media outlets have already reported that the secret world that was holding their breath against the Democratic Party has begun to move. If they move, they will die. I will kill them together with the party members.”
This appears to be a warning remark as it was reported that secretive movements were taking place behind the scenes after Representative Lee was sentenced in the first trial to ‘loss of his seat as a member of the National Assembly’. ‘Choilhoe’, which is led by former non-member lawmakers, plans to invite former Prime Minister Kim Boo-gyeom to give a special lecture on the 1st. Former Prime Minister Kim, along with Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon and former South Gyeongsang Governor Kim Gyeong-soo, are considered one of the ‘new three Kims of the secret world’ within the party.
This is not the first time there has been controversy over ‘loyalty competition’ regarding Representative Lee. Former Supreme Council member Kang Min-gu claimed last June that “the father of the Democratic Party is Representative Lee Jae-myung,” and Democratic Party lawmaker Kang Byeong-won read ‘Matthew 27’ in front of Representative Lee last March and compared him to Jesus.
Last February, Supreme Council member Chung Cheong-rae said, “Jae-myung is the spirit of the times and Son Heung-min,” adding, “The Democratic Party inherited its flag and symbol with Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in, and Lee Jae-myung. In soccer, the flag is Cha Bum-geun, Hwang Sun-hong, Park Ji-sung, and Son Heung-min. He also claimed, “It was inherited.”
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party made it clear that “we are not considering replacing the party leader at all” in relation to the situation where Representative Lee’s judicial risk is becoming a reality.
Secretary-General Kim Yun-deok said at a press conference held at the National Assembly the previous day, “The Democratic Party will fight without wavering and move forward to carry out the given tasks. We are receiving encouraging calls from quite a few lawmakers, and the party is doing better.”
He continued, “I believe that if we go to the second trial, a proper legal ruling will be made based on the truth and facts,” and “Rather, not only Representative Lee’s personal political actions, but also the actions of the Yoon Seok-yeol government and the prosecution on the Democratic Party’s path to power are clearly revealed. “I am confident that it will be revealed through the process,” he claimed.
The Democratic Party is also increasing the level of criticism directed at the prosecution that investigated Representative Lee and the judiciary that handed down the first trial sentence. The Democratic Party’s Prosecution and Dictatorship Political Oppression Countermeasure Committee held a press conference the previous day and said, “Political prosecution Yoon Seok-yeol attempted judicial murder of Representative Lee Jae-myung through case manipulation and forced indictment,” and “The results of the political prosecution’s collusion with the political circles are “It’s as if the court agreed,” he said, raising his voice.
Seulgi Lee, Hankyung.com reporter seulkee@hankyung.com
– How does the issue of loyalty among Democratic Party members reflect broader trends in political allegiance within parties across the globe?
Nded questions to guide the conversation between the guests:
Section 1: Loyalty competition in the Democratic Party
– How significant is the rhetoric surrounding ‘loyalty’ within the Democratic Party, particularly towards party leader Lee Jae-myung?
– Can you discuss the controversy surrounding Rep. Lee Hae-sik’s Facebook post comparing Lee Jae-myung to Marcus Aurelius, and how this might be interpreted by different factions within the party?
– How does the party leadership plan to handle the growing tension between pro- and anti-Lee factions within the party?
Section 2: The future of the Democratic Party
– What are the potential implications of Lee Jae-myung’s legal challenges on the party’s future prospects?
– What role do the non-world forces mentioned in the article play in the internal dynamics of the party, and how do they influence party politics?
- How does the Democratic Party plan to unite and move forward in the face of these challenges?
Section 3: Political polarization and the role of the media
– Do you think the media’s coverage of the Lee Jae-myung case has been fair and balanced, or has it contributed to political polarization?
– How does the ongoing discourse about ‘loyalty’ and ‘division’ within the party serve to further divide public opinion?
– What steps can political leaders take to promote a more constructive dialogue and reduce polarization in Korean politics?
