Lee Nak-yon, the former Prime Minister of the Moon Jae-in government and former leader of the Democratic Party, announced an agreement to form a joint government with Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party presidential candidate representing the pro-Yoon Suk-yeol faction. Amid fierce backlash within the Democratic Party, a gathering of aides from the Moon Jae-in government expelled the former Prime Minister.
The policy forum Sa-ui-jae, composed of personnel from the Moon Jae-in government, stated on the 27th, "Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon announced his support for the People Power Party candidate Kim Moon-soo and agreed to form a joint government," adding, "We held an emergency board meeting and decided to expel former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon from the forum's advisory council."
Sa-ui-jae is a policy forum established to inherit the achievements of the Moon Jae-in government and reflect on its limitations, primarily involving aides of former President Moon Jae-in. Among the aides, former Prime Ministers Kim Boo-kyum, Lee Nak-yon, and Jeong Se-kyun serve as advisors.
Sa-ui-jae explained its background, stating, "The position of holding responsibility for the unconstitutional state of emergency declared on Dec. 3, supporting those who advocate for it, and forming a joint government with them is a serious violation of the forum's purpose and constitutes grounds for expulsion as stated in its bylaws."
This advisory chairman held an emergency press conference in Yeouido, Seoul, on this day, evaluating the election of Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, as the emergence of a "monstrous dictatorship" while announcing plans to form a joint government with candidate Kim Moon-soo. He noted, "There are aspects of candidate Kim Moon-soo that I find difficult to accept, but it is clear that he is the most suitable candidate to prevent the emergence of a monstrous dictatorship."
This advisory chairman entered politics in 2000 at the urging of former President Kim Dae-jung and has consistently been active in the Democratic Party. He was elected five times as a member of the National Assembly and as governor of South Jeolla Province. Later, during the Moon Jae-in administration in 2017, he served as Prime Minister, and in 2020, he rose to the position of party leader.
Since competing against Lee Jae-myung in the primary for the 20th presidential election in 2021, his standing within the Democratic Party has diminished. This advisory chairman finished second in the primary for the 20th presidential election. Following the election, the pro-Lee Jae-myung faction seized control of the party, leading to repeated conflicts with the party leadership and ultimately resulting in his departure from the party in 2023.
There is a significant atmosphere of shock within the Democratic Party regarding this advisory chairman's "declaration of alliance with Kim Moon-soo." In particular, some have used terms like "defector," "sakura," and "astonishment" to criticize this advisory chairman.
Jin Sung-jun, the Democratic Party's election campaign committee policy director, remarked on Facebook, "I believed there was no way former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon would form an anti-Lee Jae-myung alliance with rebel forces," adding, "In the end, he made a choice that completely denies his life. It is truly regrettable."
Kim Min-seok, the Democratic Party's co-chairperson, pointed out, "He has concluded the grand finale of the 'sakura' movement he pursued since his youth," while Park Ji-won emphasized, "I cannot hide my astonishment at reports that this advisory chairman has agreed to a joint government with the rebel candidate Kim Moon-soo through constitutional amendments."