Factional battles intensify in both parties as leadership contests loom

Factional tensions targeting current party leaderships have begun to flare in earnest as both ruling and opposition parties turn their attention to upcoming leadership races in the wake of the June 3 local elections.

According to political sources Thursday, fault lines within the Democratic Party are sharpening ahead of its Aug. 17 national convention, with supporters of President Lee Jae Myung — the pro-Lee camp — clashing with backers of party leader Jung Chung-rae, known as the pro-Jung camp.

Kim Yong, a former vice president of the Democratic Research Institute and one of President Lee's closest allies, said in a CBS Radio interview Thursday that Jung's recent remark at a Supreme Council meeting — "administrations are short-lived" — amounted to a serious blunder. "Looking at that phrase alone, I thought it sounded like the kind of political rhetoric the People Power Party uses — and now it has come from the mouth of our own party leader, drawing considerable criticism," Kim said. "It was truly a remarkable gaffe."

Kim also rebuffed the leadership's claim of a sweeping victory in the local elections. "In the race for basic local government heads, the Democratic Party won 115 seats and the People Power Party 95 — not a wide margin at all," he said. "It is no exaggeration to say this was nearly a complete defeat. The biggest reason for the loss was a total absence of strategy." Democratic Party lawmaker Moon Jin-seog echoed the criticism on Facebook, writing that the phrase "'The people are eternal, administrations are short-lived' is highly inappropriate language for the leader of the ruling party," and adding, "I am deeply worried about our party's future."

Within the pro-Jung camp, meanwhile, pressure is mounting against Rep. Song Young-gil, who is considered a potential candidate for the next party leadership. Song had defended outgoing North Jeolla Governor Kim Kwan-young — who ran against Lee Won-taek, the governor-elect, after being expelled from the Democratic Party and standing as an independent — saying, "Kim Kwan-young is ultimately a Democratic Party person."

Governor-elect Lee pushed back on Facebook, writing that "Song Young-gil's conduct against the party must be disciplined without fail — it is a betrayal of the party members who fought desperately across North Jeolla to protect the Democratic Party candidate." Supreme Council member Lee Seong-yun and Rep. Choi Min-hee had earlier also criticized Song, saying his actions constituted conduct against the party.

Song responded on Facebook, writing: "We can think differently. We can take different paths. We can compete. But there is no need for people who share the same direction to poke each other in the eyes."

On the opposition side, internal conflict over People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok's future has intensified following the election of Jeong Jeom-sik as the party's new floor leader. Open clashes erupted at the first Supreme Council meeting held after Jeong's election, and junior lawmakers have since joined calls for Jang to step down.

Supreme Council member Woo Jae-jun confronted Jang directly at Thursday's Supreme Council meeting, saying, "You should run again at the national convention and be evaluated. Only then will dissatisfied party members accept the outcome and allow us to move forward as one." He formally proposed that the entire leadership resign together.

Supreme Council member Jo Gwang-han pushed back sharply, calling the suggestion "politically immature" and saying it was "childish to air such things in public." The two were reported to have continued arguing loudly even during the closed-door Supreme Council meeting that followed.

The junior lawmakers' group Alternative and Future also held a press conference Thursday to formally call for Jang's resignation. Rep. Lee Seong-gwon, the group's secretary, said the People Power Party "suffered a crushing defeat in the June 3 local elections" and that "Jang's leadership has collapsed — responsibility lies entirely with the Jang Dong-hyeok leadership." The group also asked floor leader Jeong to convene a general assembly of lawmakers to resolve the matter.

The question of Jang's future now rests with floor leader Jeong, whose decision will shape whether an early national convention is held and how the next leadership race takes shape. The day before his election, Jeong said the issue should be resolved "by gathering the collective will of lawmakers through collective wisdom." Political observers expect Jeong to pursue a consensus-based solution rather than a forcible ouster. Should Jang step down before completing his term, independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon is widely seen as the frontrunner to emerge as the next leadership contender — though that scenario depends on Han rejoining the party without friction. Jeong struck a cautious note on the matter, saying it is "not yet at the stage for internal party discussion." Still, voices inside and outside the party suggest Han's return is only a matter of time. Rep. Jo Gyeong-tae said on KBS Radio Thursday that Han's rejoining the party "is only natural," while Rep. Kim Jae-seop told YTN that "I think we will definitely fight the general election as a team with Rep. Han."

Separately, floor leader Jeong began assembling his leadership team Thursday, appointing two-term Rep. Kim Seung-su of Daegu's Buk-eul district as chief deputy floor leader for operations.