Lee Jae-myung, the representative of the Democratic Party of Korea, is recently asking surrounding lawmakers for their opinions on his reappointment as the party leader. Amidst increasing calls within and outside the party for his reappointment, he has personally started reviewing the possibility.
Former Democratic Party floor leader Hong Ik-pyo appeared on a YouTube broadcast on the 3rd and revealed that Lee Jae-myung had asked for opinions on his recent reappointment as the party leader, to which he responded with a suggestion for reappointment. Another lower-ranking lawmaker stated in an interview on the 5th with the JoongAng Ilbo that he had a clear discussion with Lee Jae-myung on the pros and cons of reappointment, emphasizing that leading directly is the right move considering the responsibility for the current party support rate and the results of the local elections in two years.
Not only Lee Jae-myung himself but also his related factions are listening to various opinions regarding his reappointment. A close faction lawmaker stated that there seems to be a general consensus within the party for Lee’s reappointment, as there is a lack of alternative leadership to lead the major opposition party effectively, especially after the National Assembly Speaker election.
If Lee Jae-myung is reappointed, it will be the first reappointment as party leader since former President Kim Dae-jung’s 24 years ago. Following the end of the era of “Three Kims,” in which Kim Dae-jung led both the ruling party and the presidency simultaneously to exert significant influence, there have been no cases of party leader reappointments within both the Democratic Party and the main opposition party.
In the case of Lee Jae-myung’s reappointment, he would need to resign by March 2026 if he plans to run in the presidential election in 2027. A party official analyzed that if Lee is reappointed, he would be able to influence until the local election nominations in June 2026, and the effective dynamics between the general elections and the summit talks have eliminated the reason for him to step back during Yoon Suk-yeol’s presidency.
Already, in a situation where lawmaker Park Chan-dae has taken over as floor leader, some analysts view the contemplation of Lee Jae-myung’s reappointment as the closing of the “Lee Jae-myung era.” The Democratic Party is expected to appoint a re-elected member as the chief spokesperson for vacant positions possibly this week, with the possibility of it going to politicians from Lee’s faction. However, concerns about the “Lee Jae-myung era” are also raised within the party, as some Metro Seoul elected officials pointed out that the party needs to be more dynamic, especially after the general elections, instead of echoing a single voice excessively.