The return of Lee Nak-yeon, former prime minister and one-time presidential hopeful, from a yearlong sabbatical in the U.S. in late June has ignited tensions within South Korea’s main opposition Democratic Party (DP). Lee Nak-yeon’s reappearance comes as he and current DP leader Lee Jae-myung grapple for control, turning factional lines within the party into a political battleground.

In recent weeks, the DP’s “Blue Wave” social media platform has become a hotspot for rancorous debate. Lee Nak-yeon and Lee Jae-myung’s respective supporters have traded vitriolic barbs, escalating the underlying power struggle to new heights. To address this internal discord, the two progressive politicians arranged a meeting, initially set for July 11.