The progressive party’s journey: Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) should concentrate on the welfare of the people.
President Yoon Suk Yeol may have gained admiration in the U.S. and Japan, but he is not as popular in Korea. His approval rating has remained low since he assumed office around 17 months ago, and his social, economic and foreign policies have only been accepted by a few right-wingers and individuals with vested interests.
The conservative leader appears to prioritize his own interests over that of the nation, and this is because the opposition DPK has a lower popularity rate than Yoon and his ruling party. Voters are left with no choice.
At the core of the faltering DPK is its leader, Rep. Lee Jae-myung. Lee, who narrowly lost to Yoon in the last election, has been “subject to judicial risk” for almost two years. He is accused of bribery, breach of trust, and other offences. The center-left politician maintains his innocence, claiming the former prosecutor-turned-president is attempting to “eliminate a political rival” through the use of law enforcement.
Many electors are suspicious that Yoon has political motives in persecuting Lee. Nevertheless, they don’t feel much sympathy for Lee, believing the opposition leader is exploiting his party for personal gain. A few days ago, Lee concluded his 24-day hunger strike, which was intended to protest against a “prosecutorial dictatorship,” yet this struggle failed to evoke much support for similar reasons.
On Wednesday, Lee evaded another prosecutorial attempt to detain him as a Seoul court rejected their arrest warrant. By avoiding a worst-case scenario, the opposition leader will be able to retaliate against the prosecution and reinforce his weakened party leadership. The newly elected DPK floor leader also requested unity under Lee until they win the parliamentary elections in April. Lee may think he has succeeded in overcoming the first major obstacle towards rechallenging the presidency.
Everybody is aware that avoiding detention is not the same as being acquitted. Lee’s legal battle will continue until he is cleared of all charges by the court — or until Yoon’s term ends.
The president has declined to meet Lee face to face, saying, “Meeting with a suspect will influence legal proceedings.” Yoon’s behavior is problematic not only because the former prosecutor does not respect the presumption of innocence but also because he suppresses domestic politics by not recognizing his opposition counterpart. Nevertheless, electors tired of partisan bickering blame both sides.
It is evident what Lee should do moving forward.
Above all, he must restrict his legal battle’s effects on his party and the overall political scene. He must unite the DPK by accommodating the “non-Lee” faction. If Lee yields to his fanatical followers in and outside the party to expose and punish approximately 30 “rebels” — those who voted to allow prosecutors to seek the arrest warrant — voters will turn away from the DPK. He must make his fight personal.
Lee has some things in common with Donald Trump. They are election losers and want a rematch. Both are involved in multiple trials but claim they are the victims of a political vendetta. Nevertheless, unlike Trump, who is popular and may win, Lee has a long way to go to win over voters.
That adds an important reason why Lee and his party must stop political bickering, both internal or external, and concentrate on substantial issues. The center-of-left party must demonstrate why it is an alternative to the far-right Yoon and his People Power Party (PPP). The opposition party must make Koreans feel safer and wealthier by promising to resume inter-Korean dialogue amidst balanced diplomacy, pursue better redistribution, and guarantee “genuine,” instead of ideological, freedom, including press freedom.
If Lee and the DPK stay stuck in a personal, short-sighted power struggle, they will not win the next parliamentary polls six months later. Suppose they fail to put the nation and the people ahead of their party, let alone its leader. In that case, the opposition cannot rectify the incumbent’s wayward conduct of state affairs.
That will not end up as the progressive party’s misfortune but rather that of the entire nation.