Writer Rhyu Si-min and former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, a candidate for the Democratic Party leadership, have engaged in a sharp war of words over President Lee Jae-myung's state administration and the party's internal factional line.

Appearing on a YouTube channel yesterday, Rhyu claimed that President Lee Jae-myung himself is likely the head of the "New Lee Jae-myung" faction within the Democratic Party.

"I believe President Lee holds the stance against the complete separation of the prosecution's investigative and indictment powers," Rhyu criticized, adding, "The President is at the center of the delays in prosecution reform and the confusion surrounding the Criminal Procedure Act amendment bill."

He went on to emphasize the need to criticize the so-called "New Lee Jae-myung" faction, stating, "Without limitations, every fish market is bound to emit a rotten odor. Absolute power corrupts 100%. We must quickly purify it before a rotten smell starts to emerge."

Former Prime Minister Kim Min-seok immediately pushed back against Rhyu's remarks.

Taking to his social media, Kim directly targeted Rhyu's comments, writing, "The language of comrades and the perspective of affection do not include words like 'certain defeat' or 'rotten odor.'"

He also stated, "Politics that distorts the President's sincere intentions and crosses the line of commentary has even lost restraint and dignity."

He further emphasized, "The Democratic Party will overcome both anti-Lee Jae-myung factions and factionalism, and will protect the President and national policy tasks until the end."

As a pro-ruling bloc commentator and a party leadership contender clash over the direction of prosecution reform, including the abolition of supplementary investigation powers, internal ideological conflicts within the Democratic Party are heating up further ahead of the national convention.

Reported by Lee Hyeon-yeong | Video by Ahn Jun-hyeok | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News