Pro-Jung faction pushes back with calls to expel Choi Jae-hyung... Party infighting intensifies

After the pro-Lee Jae-myung leadership wing of the Democratic Party of Korea ruled on the 15th that Supreme Council member Choi Min-hee's remarks warranted expulsion from the party, the pro-Jung Chung-rae faction fought back by invoking a 'rectification movement' aimed at correcting members' misguided thoughts and actions. The conflict originated at the party convention, when Chairman Kim Min-seok raised suspicions of a 'three-way secret alliance' involving anti-Lee Jae-myung, divisive, and Shincheonji forces, targeting his rival, former Chairman Jung Chung-rae. Subsequent investigations found no evidence supporting the 'three-way secret alliance' allegations.

The immediate trigger was the release of a recording of Supreme Council member Choi's remarks at a regional party members' meeting last month, in which she suggested that President Lee Jae-myung, during his tenure as party chairman, had opposed the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. The presidential office expressed strong regret, and Chairman Kim ordered an ethics inspection on the 12th. On the 15th, Choi apologized on Facebook, saying she had "caused distress to the President through a misremembered and confused statement," but maintained that "the controversy over the three-way secret alliance is a separate matter from my mistake."

'Deomincho', a group of 68 first-term Democratic Party lawmakers, held an emergency meeting on the night of the 15th to discuss follow-up measures regarding Choi's remarks, while former Chairman Jung Chung-rae announced plans to raise a 'new flag' on the 24th, marking Chairman Kim's 100th day in office — drawing attention to both sides' responses.