Seated beside Lee Jae-myung at a dinner on February 27, Im Jong-seok said to Lee,” I intend to support and promote those who boldly compete with you and try to surpass you”. With this statement, Im officially distanced himself from Lee, signaling a possible change in the group’s internal dynamics.
Im Jong-seok is a skilled politician with strong roots in South Korea’s radical left activities. He first gained notoriety as a pupil activist in the 1980s, advocating for reconciliation with North Korea.
Im played a vital role in facilitating other advocate Im Su-gyong’s illicit attend to North Korea in 1989 for the 13th World Festival of Youth and Kids in Pyongyang. At the time, he was the head of the National Council of Student Representatives, the similar institution to which Im Su-gyong belonged.
After her returning to South Korea, both were arrested and imprisoned for violating the National Security Act.
Im remained steadfast in his political views as the years passed and he attracted social support. Serving as the national chief of staff under Moon Jae-in solidified his position within the pro-Moon sect of the DPK.
Lee Jae-myung’s consolidation of power
Lee Jae-myung, since ascending to the management of the DPK in August 2022, has consistently consolidated his strength, often sidelining critics and detractors within the group. His management style has led to a common understanding of the DPK as a “one-man group”.
During the election processes for votes, many notable characters, including those aligned with the pro-Moon party, were excluded or marginalized. Importantly, in February 2024, Im Jong-seok was denied the DPK election for Seoul’s Jung-Seongdong city, a district long considered his stronghold. This move was widely interpreted as an attempt by Lee to remove possible rivals and strengthen his grip on the group.
Rising political rivalry
The DPK is already experiencing heightened political tensions, mostly between backers of Lee Jae-myung and those aligned with the pro-Moon party, led by Im Jong-seok. Im has been outspoken in his condemnation of Lee’s management style and policy way. He officially refuted Lee’s try to reinvent the group’s ideological stance as center-left, asserting that such changes” may be made immediately by one individual, even if he is the head”.
This inner conflict has led to common problems, raising fears about the group’s unity and its ability to effectively problem the ruling group. If President Yoon Suk Yeol were to be impeached, the law requires a presidential poll to be held within 60 days.
Moon Jae-in’s control
Former President Moon Jae-in continues to exert a powerful, albeit direct, control over the DPK. While he has maintained a relatively small public status since leaving office, his support for the pro-Moon party remains visible.
As Moon’s former chief of staff, Im Jong-seok is commonly regarded as a key figure in this party. The position between Moon and Im suggests a proper work to counter Lee Jae-myung’s supremacy within the celebration. This powerful reinforces the deepening factionalism within the DPK and suggestions at possible shifts in its administration and policy guidelines in the near future.
Yoon Suk Yeol’s transfer
In a horizontal growth, South Korea’s social landscape was jolted by the recent launch of charged President Yoon Suk Yeol from confinement. A court decision deemed his arrest illegal, leading to his release.
This development adds another layer of complexity to South Korea’s political scenario, especially with the Constitutional Court expected to decide in coming days whether to overturn Yoon’s impeachment and order him reinstated or kick him out of office permanently.
Legal challenges facing Lee Jae-myung
Concurrently, Lee Jae-myung is facing multiple criminal trials – seven cases with 11 charges. Court rulings are expected soon and, depending on the sentencing, he could be barred from holding public office for up to ten years. This would prevent him from running in the next presidential election. Such an outcome would significantly reshape the DPK’s leadership dynamics and could pave the way for the pro-Moon faction to regain prominence within the party.
Potential shift in DPK’s power dynamics
If Lee Jae-myung becomes legally incapacitated, the DPK’s power structure is likely to shift back toward the pro-Moon faction. Im Jong-seok, with the backing of former President Moon Jae-in, is well-positioned to ascend within the party ranks. This transition could lead to a reorientation of the party’s policies and strategies, particularly in light of the broader political upheavals stemming from Yoon Suk Yeol’s situation.
South Korea’s political landscape is undergoing significant transformations. The Democratic Party of Korea faces internal factionalism, legal challenges to its current leadership, and the potential resurgence of the pro-Moon faction. These developments, coupled with the uncertainty surrounding Yoon Suk Yeol’s future, suggest a period of volatility and realignment in South Korean politics.
Hanjin Lew is a political commentator specializing in East Asian affairs and a former international spokesman for South Korean conservative parties.