Democratic Party Elects New Leadership: Moon Cautions Against Division, Lee Emphasizes Unity

The Democratic Party selected its new leadership at a national convention on the 17th. President Lee Jae-myung, speaking ahead of the election for the party chair, urged, "Just as we have competed intensely worthy of the Democratic Party until now, we must rally closely around the new leadership starting today." According to Yonhap News, President Lee emphasized internal integration following the primary, stating, "The Democratic Party is one." With approval ratings having fallen from the 60% range at the start of his term to 43.0% according to Realmeter surveys, the transition in the ruling party's leadership structure carries significant weight.

What Former President Moon's 'Concern Over Party Division' Signals

The surfacing of conflicts during the primary process was the biggest variable in this convention. Former President Moon Jae-in pointed out on the 17th, "There are many concerns regarding the delegates' convention," adding, "Competition must not divide the party." The fact that a former president personally raised the need to guard against division just before the convention is interpreted as evidence that this race went beyond a simple contest between candidates.

In fact, the race for party leadership was a tight contest. Candidate Kim Min-seek gained momentum in the Honam region, while regional bases such as Kim Kwan-young and Yoon Jun-byeong also vied fiercely. The election of Rep. Ahn Do-geol as the first chairman of the integrated city and party committee was also a keyword, highlighting 'One Team' and 'Bridge.' Within the party, there is a prevailing view that the composition of the new leadership and future party-government relations will depend on the combination of public polls (30%) and delegate votes.

43.0% Approval Rating: Will the Convention Be a Turning Point?

President Lee's job approval rating recorded 43.0% in a Realmeter survey (conducted from the 10th to the 14th), marking a fifth consecutive decline and the lowest since taking office. A Gallup Korea survey also showed it at only 44%. Compared to the high expectations at the outset of his administration, the decline is steep. In this climate, the new leadership is expected to serve not merely as a party management body but as a political lever to drive a rebound in public opinion.

President Lee's repeated emphasis on the need to "rally around the new leadership" is underpinned by these figures. If internal party conflict spills outward during a decline in approval ratings, the drop could accelerate. In terms of party-government relations, the leadership's role as a coordination window between the National Assembly and the government becomes more significant in a system where the President does not concurrently serve as party leader. The distance the new leader establishes with the Presidential Office is likely to influence the party's strategy ahead of next year's general election.

Opposition's Gaze and Future Landscape

The People Power Party is also closely watching this convention. The People Power Party, led by Chairman Kim Dong-hyun, is pushing a 'anti-constitutional amendment line plus 9 seats' to counter President Lee's arguments for a four-year term and possible re-education through constitutional amendment. Rep. Kim Tae-ho previously mentioned, "If President Lee states he will not seek re-election, the opposition party must also participate in constitutional discussions." As the ruling party's new leadership launches, the political wrangling over constitutional reform is likely to enter a new phase.

For President Lee, the task is to transform post-convention internal cohesion into momentum for external expansion. While a 43.0% approval rating is still below the majority, whether he can confirm the bottom of the decline and engineer a rebound will be a watershed for future state administration. To ensure Former President Moon's concerns do not materialize, personnel choices and operations that embrace the defeated faction must follow; the new leadership's first steps immediately after the convention will serve as a key test.