The pro-Lee Jae-myung faction within the Democratic Party of Korea is distancing itself from Kim Eo-jun, who has been called the party's "shadow power." The backlash within the party intensified over the so-called "indictment withdrawal deal" theory that spread through Kim's YouTube channel recently. Given assessments that Kim has wielded influence at the level of a "retired king" based on his high recognition among the support base, some interpret this as the pro-Lee faction using the controversy to redefine its relationship with him.
In his YouTube broadcast on the 13th, Kim denied any connection to the allegations, saying, "I don't understand on what basis people are claiming this was pre-arranged." He added, "The credibility of the reporting is something he must take responsibility for," shifting blame to Jang In-su, a former MBC reporter who first raised the allegations. Regarding calls from some within the Democratic Party to include Kim as well as Jang in criminal complaints, Kim stated, "If complaints are filed, that's fine with us," indicating he would respond with counter-charges of false accusation.
Despite Kim's explanation, sentiment within the pro-Lee faction turned toward holding Kim responsible. The Democratic National Innovation Council, a pro-Lee group, issued a statement that day criticizing "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory" along with Jang for "causing national confusion," saying Kim's YouTube channel "became a decisive conduit for spreading groundless allegations." The group also refuted Kim's claim that he had no prior knowledge of the reporting, stating, "The fact remains unchanged that News Factory was the space where the problematic remarks were publicized and spread."
Within the pro-Lee faction, there are signs of wariness that Kim, at the peak of his influence, has been aligning more closely with the party establishment faction and hardline supporters than with President Lee Jae-myung. Given that Kim has delivered strongly divisive messages during intra-party conflicts such as the merger controversy with the Cho Kuk Innovation Party and prosecution reform issues, some interpret this as a move to reduce his influence and redefine relationships using this opportunity.
Pro-Lee lawmakers have effectively begun to "reduce his power" by signaling that appearances on Kim's YouTube show should be curtailed. In a radio interview, Rep. Park Chan-dae said, "Kim's broadcasts differ from the sentiments of the public and supporters," adding, "The number of politicians appearing will likely decrease significantly going forward." He added, "Personally, I haven't appeared for a long time."
Rep. Han Jun-ho also pointed out, "There needs to be a certain check-and-balance relationship between that platform and politicians." Former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil escalated criticism, saying, "We must not become monsters while fighting monsters," and "It is not desirable for National Assembly members to line up to appear on a specific YouTube channel." Indeed, notably not a single sitting Democratic Party lawmaker appeared on Kim's YouTube broadcast that day.
The Presidential Office also did not hide its displeasure. Hong Ik-pyo, Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs, appeared on KBS and characterized the allegations as "highly inappropriate fake news," saying they are "subject to mediation under the Press Arbitration Act." Hong had originally been scheduled to appear on Kim's YouTube show but reportedly canceled after the controversy erupted. However, he cautioned against over-interpretation, saying it was "due to unavoidable scheduling conflicts."
The Democratic Party leadership, however, has maintained a subtle distance by not taking any particular position on the Kim controversy. Rep. Chung Chung-rae, the Democratic Party leader who presided over a field Supreme Council meeting held in Jeonbuk, emphasized only the party's commitment to prosecution reform without mentioning Kim or the "indictment withdrawal deal" theory.
The same day, it was revealed that Rep. Chung's name was not included on the request for a parliamentary investigation that the Democratic Party submitted to the National Assembly regarding the withdrawal of President Lee's indictment, prompting various interpretations in political circles. Rep. Chung had stated the previous day that he would "respond strongly using all available means," but offered no particular position on the Kim issue. Rep. Chung and Kim are known to be close.
A ruling party official analyzed, "In conjunction with the so-called 'New Lee Jae-myung' trend, movements toward power realignment are also appearing in the pro-government YouTube ecosystem," adding, "The essence of this controversy may be the process of trying to maintain control over discourse amid the changing political landscape."
