Internal conflicts within the Democratic Party surrounding the nomination of Kim Ji-yong as the first head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency show no signs of resolution. Despite requests from party leadership for members to refrain from public comments, dissent from hardline factions continues. Analysts suggest that these internal disputes are impacting the party's approval ratings, putting Kim Min-seok's leadership to the test.
According to political sources on the 11th, hardliners within the ruling party are demanding the withdrawal of Kim's nomination, arguing that he is not only aligned with pro-Yoon Seok-yeol prosecutors but also opposed judicial reforms during the Moon Jae-in administration. While the Blue House and party leadership have scheduled a confirmation hearing for Kim on the 14th, some factions remain steadfast in their opposition.
Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yong-min stated on Facebook the previous day, "I entered politics to achieve specific goals, not to seek power for its own sake. Even now, I am working with my colleagues to create a fair society through judicial reform."
Previously, Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae voiced her opposition to Kim, labeling him a pro-Yoon and pro-Han Dong-hoon prosecutor. Park Eun-jung, a member of the Justice Reform Party, remarked, "The Lee Jae-myung administration is merely a fleeting chapter, and in the future, someone with clear vision will accurately assess the history of Yoon Seok-yeol's disciplinary actions and this era."
The ongoing conflict over judicial reform within the ruling party appears to be contributing to a decline in approval ratings. A recent Gallup Korea poll released on the 9th indicated that the Democratic Party's approval rating dropped by 5 percentage points to 35%, the lowest since the start of the Lee Jae-myung administration. This survey was conducted via telephone interviews with 1,000 individuals aged 18 and older from October 6 to 8, with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level (response rate: 9.7%).
Democratic Party spokesperson Jo Gye-won told reporters at the National Assembly, "It seems that internal conflicts are inevitably linked to the stagnation in approval ratings. The public desires the Democratic Party to take the lead in addressing people's livelihoods, yet the ongoing divisions and conflicts over judicial reform are still apparent within the party."
Another Democratic lawmaker, speaking to Aju Economy, identified a lack of trust regarding internal conflicts as a reason for the declining approval ratings, emphasizing the need to address those undermining the president and clarify that such actions are not representative of the majority but rather a small minority.
As the party's approval ratings continue to decline, changes in Kim Min-seok's approach are becoming evident. After taking office, he restructured the party's operational framework and actively participated in the official YouTube program "Minty07." Recently, however, he has reduced public statements and increased his presence at events, aiming to boost approval ratings through achievements in people's livelihoods and policy.
Nevertheless, the ongoing internal strife has overshadowed these efforts, preventing an immediate rebound in approval ratings. Some express skepticism about whether the leadership's on-the-ground initiatives can restore the ratings that have fallen due to internal discord.
Meanwhile, political analysts predict that Kim Min-seok's leadership will face scrutiny around the time of Kim's confirmation hearing on the 14th. If Kim is appointed following the hearing and the party can reestablish unity, it may create a foundation for an approval rating rebound. Conversely, if discord persists after Kim's appointment, it is likely to adversely affect Kim Min-seok's leadership.
According to political sources on the 11th, hardliners within the ruling party are demanding the withdrawal of Kim's nomination, arguing that he is not only aligned with pro-Yoon Seok-yeol prosecutors but also opposed judicial reforms during the Moon Jae-in administration. While the Blue House and party leadership have scheduled a confirmation hearing for Kim on the 14th, some factions remain steadfast in their opposition.
Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yong-min stated on Facebook the previous day, "I entered politics to achieve specific goals, not to seek power for its own sake. Even now, I am working with my colleagues to create a fair society through judicial reform."
Previously, Gyeonggi Province Governor Choo Mi-ae voiced her opposition to Kim, labeling him a pro-Yoon and pro-Han Dong-hoon prosecutor. Park Eun-jung, a member of the Justice Reform Party, remarked, "The Lee Jae-myung administration is merely a fleeting chapter, and in the future, someone with clear vision will accurately assess the history of Yoon Seok-yeol's disciplinary actions and this era."
The ongoing conflict over judicial reform within the ruling party appears to be contributing to a decline in approval ratings. A recent Gallup Korea poll released on the 9th indicated that the Democratic Party's approval rating dropped by 5 percentage points to 35%, the lowest since the start of the Lee Jae-myung administration. This survey was conducted via telephone interviews with 1,000 individuals aged 18 and older from October 6 to 8, with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level (response rate: 9.7%).
Democratic Party spokesperson Jo Gye-won told reporters at the National Assembly, "It seems that internal conflicts are inevitably linked to the stagnation in approval ratings. The public desires the Democratic Party to take the lead in addressing people's livelihoods, yet the ongoing divisions and conflicts over judicial reform are still apparent within the party."
Another Democratic lawmaker, speaking to Aju Economy, identified a lack of trust regarding internal conflicts as a reason for the declining approval ratings, emphasizing the need to address those undermining the president and clarify that such actions are not representative of the majority but rather a small minority.
As the party's approval ratings continue to decline, changes in Kim Min-seok's approach are becoming evident. After taking office, he restructured the party's operational framework and actively participated in the official YouTube program "Minty07." Recently, however, he has reduced public statements and increased his presence at events, aiming to boost approval ratings through achievements in people's livelihoods and policy.
Nevertheless, the ongoing internal strife has overshadowed these efforts, preventing an immediate rebound in approval ratings. Some express skepticism about whether the leadership's on-the-ground initiatives can restore the ratings that have fallen due to internal discord.
Meanwhile, political analysts predict that Kim Min-seok's leadership will face scrutiny around the time of Kim's confirmation hearing on the 14th. If Kim is appointed following the hearing and the party can reestablish unity, it may create a foundation for an approval rating rebound. Conversely, if discord persists after Kim's appointment, it is likely to adversely affect Kim Min-seok's leadership.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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