The Democratic Party of Korea (DP) launched a counterattack today (July 20) against the People Power Party (PPP), which had criticized President Lee Jae-myung’s remarks regarding the increase in deposit fees for the DP’s national convention as "interference in party affairs," by asking, "Have you already forgotten that the People Power Party was reduced to a branch office of the presidential office during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration?"

Han Byeong-do, acting leader and floor leader, said at a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, "You were timid and unable to say a single word in front of Yoon Suk Yeol, choosing a vertical party-presidential relationship, but now that you are an opposition party, you are turning the tables and nitpicking at the President's sincere expression of opinion to drag it into political strife."

Acting leader Han countered, "The President’s intention is a very natural sense of concern that young politicians should not be prevented from participating due to financial burdens," adding, "Publicly raising such concerns on social media, which is a venue for public discourse, cannot be considered interference in party affairs."

In his closing remarks at the public meeting that day, acting leader Han mentioned that the Supreme Council had discussed the deposit fee burden, explaining, "We have made an official request to the chairman of the Election Management Committee to review the issue, as there have been greater concerns raised regarding excessive deposit fees for young candidates," and added, "The Election Management Committee will hold a meeting tomorrow to discuss it."

Supreme Council member Hwang Myeong-seon also urged at the same meeting, "It is the duty and right guaranteed by the party constitution and regulations for a President who holds party membership to express opinions on party affairs," adding, "Do not try to silence the President with false claims."

DP spokesperson Park Gyeong-mi also pointed out in a written briefing that day, "Putting 'secret interference in nominations behind closed doors' and 'transparent expression of opinions in the public square' on the same scale is absurd."

Spokesperson Park explained, "The reason a former president produced by the People Power Party was punished in the past was because they mobilized state power to interfere in 'public office nominations.' Party elections to select party leadership are an area where the autonomy and dynamism of the party are guaranteed. The President, as a party member, also has the right to express opinions guaranteed by law and the party constitution and regulations."

Representative Ko Min-jung, who has declared her candidacy for party leader in the national convention, appeared on Channel A radio's 'Political Signal' that day and said regarding President Lee’s public expression of concern, "Opinions or pointing out problems can certainly happen, but I am curious as to why it had to be done so publicly."

Regarding the analysis that it was intended to support a specific candidate, Representative Ko said, "I do not think the President had such an intention," but added, "Every word from those who hold significant authority is bound to have a stronger impact. I hope the President realizes that the ripple effect is much greater than expected."

Kim Bo-mi, a former Gangjin County council member who is running for party leader, appeared on BBS radio's 'Jeong Hye-seung's Morning Journal' and said, "How bad must it have been for the President to step forward and say, 'please lower it'?" adding, "I am baffled as to how this is interference in party affairs and who is creating such controversy."

(Photo: Yonhap News)