Yoo Si-min's 'Reconstruction Theory' Ignites Democratic Party Faction War

The upcoming Democratic Party national convention is spilling beyond a contest for party leadership into a battle over the party's ideological direction. Despite being early in his term, President Lee Jae-myung faces continued public criticism over his stance of centrist expansion and integration. As a result, the pro-Lee faction that holds party control with the president at its center is colliding head-on with the traditional support base linked to former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in.

During the Roh Moo-hyun administration, conflict with the Donggyo-dong faction led to the founding of the Uri Party, and during the Moon Jae-in administration, conflict with the old Democratic Party faction led to the splintering of the People's Party. Given this history, observers say this convention could likewise become a turning point that determines the party's future path.

Chung Cheong-rae, former Democratic Party leader and a leading figure among the party's old mainstream, posted on Facebook Saturday a message titled "A Proposal for the Success of the Lee Jae-myung Government and the Re-creation of Power — Integration and Solidarity." He expressed reverence, saying, "I respected President Kim Dae-jung, loved President Roh Moo-hyun, and liked President Moon Jae-in." By contrast, he referred to President Lee Jae-myung as "a comrade and a fellow soldier."

He continued, "For the integration of four streams, we must first integrate among ourselves those who support the four presidents. Internal integration is urgently needed," stressing, "However large our internal differences may be, could they be greater than the differences with the other side? Let all supporters of the four presidents gather together." On the surface, the remarks read as a call for the integration of the support bases of former and current Presidents Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, Moon Jae-in, and Lee Jae-myung.

However, some within the party interpret the message — citing Chung's past remark that "administrations are short but party members are forever" — as emphasizing the role of existing party members and the traditional support base rather than the pro-Lee faction that has risen rapidly in recent times. Chung also reiterated the need for integration with the Rebuilding Korea Party, toward which the pro-Lee faction has repeatedly expressed a negative stance.

Chung's message, which raised concerns about the trend of pro-Lee-centered party reorganization, aligns with the "reconstruction theory" put forward by Yoo Si-min, former chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation. Regarding the president's move to expand toward centrist and conservative voters, Yoo said, "The direction of trying to become everyone's president is itself desirable," but pointed out, "The problem, I think, is whether the president's confidence went too far."

He continued, "What the support base that protected President Lee wanted was an 'extension' that adds one more floor to the existing house. It is a three-story house, and you add one more floor toward the center and conservatives. But the president tried to do a reconstruction." Yoo added, "To do a reconstruction, you have to tear down the existing building, and they brought demolition specialists into the forum of public criticism. They attacked the normal cells of the democratic-reform camp, which is the core support base."

This is interpreted to mean that, in order to broaden his outreach, the president is neglecting the traditional support base for the sake of centrist and conservative figures newly brought into the ruling camp's mainstream. The same context applies to YouTuber Kim Eo-jun recently citing "the departure of the core support base" as the cause of the decline in the president's approval rating.

Pro-Lee leadership contenders and lawmakers pushed back in unison. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, after attending a workshop for young election winners in Gwangju, met with reporters and said, "The democratic camp's forces have played a role in changing the big picture of Korean politics," adding, "It is right to do the work of building a framework that aligns with the democratic forces' governance and continuity." In effect, he assessed the pro-Lee leadership reorganization centered on President Lee as "changing the big picture."

Rep. Song Young-gil also pushed back at the Gwangju workshop for young election winners, saying, "Things that cross the line are happening, such as recklessly talking about and attacking the president." One pro-Lee lawmaker criticized, saying, "(Chung's comrade remark) is effectively a jab, calling only President Lee a comrade," and "Yoo, too, has drifted far from public sympathy." Rep. Jeong Jin-wook also pointed out, "I never imagined they would so blatantly confess their inner belief that they are the landlords of the Democratic Party and Lee Jae-myung is the tenant."

Unlike the 2018 Democratic Party convention held in the second year of former President Moon's term, which unfolded as a contest of pro-Moon credentials among candidates Lee Hae-chan, Kim Jin-pyo, and Song Young-gil, concerns are emerging that the current Democratic Party convention race could trigger internal division depending on the outcome. A Democratic Party official said, "There is widespread concern within the party that a lame-duck period could arrive immediately if the party leader the president wants is not elected," adding, "Depending on the convention results, even the possibility of a party split is being raised."