{"id":2201289,"date":"2023-06-07T08:00:07","date_gmt":"2023-06-06T23:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2201289"},"modified":"2023-06-06T17:26:45","modified_gmt":"2023-06-06T08:26:45","slug":"democratic-party-hit-with-fresh-turmoil-as-activist-declines-appointment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2023\/06\/democratic-party-hit-with-fresh-turmoil-as-activist-declines-appointment\/","title":{"rendered":"Democratic Party hit with fresh turmoil as activist declines appointment"},"content":{"rendered":"
Lee Rae-kyung, a veteran political activist selected by Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung to helm the party\u2019s innovation committee, <\/span>declined<\/span><\/a> the role within nine hours of his appointment due to what he described as \u201cpolitical conflict\u201d between Korea\u2019s two main parties, likening the criticism against his appointment to a \u201cwitch hunt.\u201d Lee faced significant <\/span>backlash<\/span><\/a> for controversial remarks, such as <\/span>suggesting<\/span><\/a> that the ROKS Cheonan naval ship self-detonated instead of being sunk by a North Korean torpedo, <\/span>insinuating<\/span><\/a> that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is not a war criminal and <\/span>claiming<\/span><\/a> that the COVID-19 virus originated in the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n Lee\u2019s decision not to head the DP\u2019s innovation committee comes amid the party\u2019s grappling with numerous scandals involving its members and leaders. DP leader Lee Jae-myung faces <\/span>bribery charges<\/span><\/a> related to his term as mayor of Seongnam City. His predecessor, Song Young-gil, was <\/span>accused<\/span><\/a> of bribing party members and lawmakers during his 2021 leadership bid. Additionally, two lawmakers \u2014 Youn Kwan-suk and Lee Sung-man \u2014 left the DP following allegations of distributing those bribes. Another lawmaker, Kim Nam-kuk, is under investigation for questionable cryptocurrency transactions.<\/span><\/p>\n Dear readers,<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n At KOREA PRO, we are committed to providing engaging and informative content tailored to our discerning audience. Recognizing the significance of your perspectives in enriching our offerings, we cordially extend an invitation for your participation in a brief <\/span><\/i>5-minute survey<\/span><\/i><\/a>. This opportunity allows us to capture your invaluable feedback and insights, which we greatly appreciate and consider integral to our ongoing commitment to service excellence.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n Why It Matters<\/b><\/p>\n Democratic Party (DP) leader, Lee Jae-myung, has asserted that he was <\/span>unaware<\/span><\/a> of Lee Rae-kyung\u2019s controversial past statements. However, the latter\u2019s decision to recuse himself from the candidacy for the party\u2019s innovation committee role is expected to further challenge Lee Jae-myung\u2019s standing within the party. Lee Jae-myung narrowly <\/span>survived<\/span><\/a> a parliamentary vote on his arrest in February, winning by a single vote margin, which exposed that the DP is anything but united behind him.<\/span><\/p>\n