Pro-Lee YouTube Hosts Face Backlash Over Prosecution Deal Allegations

The political fallout continues over allegations that President Lee Jae-myung struck a deal with prosecutors to drop charges against him.

The ruling party demands a parliamentary investigation while the opposition calls for a special prosecutor. The Presidential Office, which had initially refrained from official responses, labeled the allegations aired on "Kim Eo-jun's Gyeomgong News Factory" as "fake news" subject to mediation under the Press Arbitration Act.

Political observers view this controversy as more than a conspiracy theory—they see it as a political phenomenon tied to shifting power dynamics within the ruling bloc. The interpretation links it to the "New Lee Jae-myung" movement, changes in pro-government YouTube politics, the June 3 local elections, and the Democratic Party's upcoming leadership race.

Rise of 'New Lee Jae-myung' Signals Power Shift

The controversy stems from the "New Lee Jae-myung" movement that emerged during merger discussions between the Democratic Party of Korea and the Rebuilding Korea Party. Unlike traditional Democratic Party supporters, this base formed around Lee's personal leadership.

This year, the movement has created tension with existing party leadership. Analysts say "New Lee Jae-myung" supporters played a key role in blocking the merger that Democratic Party Chairman Chung Chung-rae had pursued.

Some media outlets analyzed the failed merger as evidence that "New Lee Jae-myung is changing Democratic Party DNA" and that "the influence of Democratic Party kingmaker Kim Eo-jun is shaking."

Assessments emerged that Kim Eo-jun and author Yoo Si-min, who long shaped Democratic Party political discourse, have lost influence. A new supporter base that defies traditional party grammar has triggered changes in discourse structures.

News Factory Loses 20,000 Subscribers in Three Days

A ruling party official said the "New Lee Jae-myung" movement coincides with realignment in the pro-government YouTube ecosystem.

"The essence of this controversy is that Kim Eo-jun and Yoo Si-min are overreaching to maintain their discourse dominance through YouTube," the official said.

The allegations unfolded as follows on Kim's broadcast:

"A senior government official close to President Lee delivered a message to prosecutors asking them to drop the charges against the president" (May 10, former MBC journalist Jang In-su).

"If President Lee passes the government's prosecution reform bill, he will be severely punished by prosecutors at the end of his term" (May 11, Kim Eo-jun).

"If the deal allegations are true, it would be grounds for presidential impeachment" (May 11, former KBS journalist Hong Sa-hun).

"President Lee is not the kind of person who would make such a deal" (May 12, Kim Eo-jun).

Subscribers fled immediately. According to YouTube statistics site Playboard, News Factory maintained 2.28 million subscribers through May 11 but dropped to 2.27 million the next day and 2.26 million by May 14—losing roughly 10,000 daily.

This mirrors the merger controversy, when 30,000 of 2.31 million subscribers left within a week. Efforts to maintain discourse dominance are backfiring.

Chairman Chung Absent from Investigation Request

Kim Eo-jun said he did not know in advance what Jang would say and threatened to countersue for false accusation if the Democratic Party takes legal action.

The Democratic Party's parliamentary investigation request omitted Chairman Chung's name, and legal action targeted only Jang.

Many attribute Chung's rise to party chairman—despite being a peripheral figure among 386 Generation elites—to Kim's active support. Chung, seeking reelection as chairman, would find it burdensome to include Kim in any investigation or complaint.

Rep. Han Jun-ho, running for Gyeonggi governor, criticized Kim's response: "He might not have been able to fact-check beforehand, but once something happens, he should apologize responsibly and discuss preventive measures."

Han emphasized the need for "a certain check-and-balance relationship between the platform and the politicians who appear on it."

President Lee: 'Irresponsible Media More Dangerous Than Weapons'

President Lee posted a significant message on social media on May 14, sharing news of a guilty verdict against lawyer Jang Young-ha for spreading false "Lee Jae-myung organized crime" allegations.

"Media that reports without fact-checking, media that intentionally manipulates and distorts, irresponsible media that simply repeats baseless false claims—these are more dangerous than weapons," Lee wrote. "I yearn for a clear world where truth and justice flow like rivers, free of fake news."

He thanked Rep. Lee Geon-tae, who led the parliamentary investigation into the charge-dropping allegations, saying: "I know you worked hard. I am truly grateful."

Though Lee did not mention Kim's News Factory directly, he appeared to address the controversy indirectly. He also seemed to target politicians pushing hardline prosecution reform.

"No matter how well packaged or hidden, you cannot deceive the public, which has evolved into a collective intelligence," Lee wrote on X on May 7. "The political standing of specific individuals or groups, or electoral advantages, cannot take precedence over the nation's future or public benefit."

Political observers interpret Lee's remarks as awareness of power struggles within the ruling party over the June 3 elections and Democratic Party leadership. Kim's public clash with Prime Minister Kim Min-seok fits this context.

A pro-Lee lawmaker from the capital region said: "On the surface, this looks like a debate over prosecution reform or charge-dropping conspiracy theories. But the real conflict is a power struggle among ideologues who have influenced the Democratic Party, and some politicians are exploiting it."

Hardliners Push Aggressive Prosecution Reform

Leading hardliners include Rep. Choo Mi-ae, chair of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Kim Yong-min. They demand complete abolition of investigative authority, arguing that giving public prosecution office prosecutors supplementary investigation rights would expand prosecutorial power.

Analysts say Kim's News Factory used Jang to frame President Lee's insistence on supplementary investigation rights as evidence of a charge-dropping deal.

Rep. Choo is running for Gyeonggi governor. Some speculate Rep. Kim Yong-min may join the next party leadership race. This context also explains why Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk repeatedly clashes with the Democratic Party.

Discourse Power Reshuffle Underway

The 22nd general election brought major personnel changes, but ideologues like Kim Eo-jun who shaped Democratic Party discourse for decades maintained influence. However, President Lee's pragmatic achievements and the "New Lee Jae-myung" supporters' arrival have created a challenging situation.

Personnel changes are now followed by discourse power realignment.