Within the Democratic Party of Korea, the group of lawmakers "Gongchimo," formed to push for canceling the indictment in President Lee Jae-myung's case and for a parliamentary investigation, is effectively moving to suspend its activities. As questions mounted inside the party that it was a so-called "anti-Jung Chung-rae factional alliance," the group decided to minimize official activities just three days after its launch. Even within the pro-Lee Jae-myung camp, there had been criticism that Gongchimo was a factional gathering, so the backlash is expected to continue.
Gongchimo held a luncheon meeting of its steering committee members on the afternoon of the 26th at a restaurant in Yeouido, Seoul. The meeting was arranged to discuss the group's future, including recent controversy over it being a factional gathering and the party's creation of an official body related to canceling the indictment.
Lee Geon-tae, a Democratic Party lawmaker serving as Gongchimo's secretary, met with reporters after the meeting and said, "Gongchimo will fully support the Democratic Party's special committee and the push for a parliamentary investigation, and will maintain the goal of canceling the indictment in President Lee's case," but added, "However, Gongchimo's independent activities will be minimized, and we will throw our full support behind the party's special committee and the parliamentary investigation."
The Democratic Party of Korea the previous day established as an official body the "Special Committee to Pursue a Parliamentary Investigation for Fact-finding on Fabricated Indictments under the Dictatorship of Yoon Suk-yeol and for Canceling Indictments." As controversy grew over factional overtones, the move was interpreted as an attempt to absorb Gongchimo into a party organ.
Indeed, with the creation of an official party organ, Gongchimo's room to maneuver has been greatly reduced. Kim Young-jin, a Democratic Party lawmaker considered an "original pro-Lee" figure, said, "(Gongchimo) needs to express its views appropriately and then dissolve," while Rep. Kim Gi-pyo declared his withdrawal, saying, "I can't understand why there is an attempt to keep it." There were also suspicions that some in Gongchimo were aiming to enter the party leadership, suggesting they were trying to do "their own politics."
A Democratic Party lawmaker from the greater Seoul area said, "If an in-party organ has been created regarding the cancellation of the president's indictment, I think it would be appropriate to naturally disband the group," adding, "In the end, wasn't there also an aspect that the group was formed to satisfy personal ambitions?"
Gongchimo continues to deny the factional controversy. Although it is scaling back official activities, the group decided to remain in existence, leaving the embers of conflict intact.
Park Sung-joon, a Democratic Party lawmaker who serves as Gongchimo's standing representative, met with reporters at the National Assembly that day and said, "What does Gongchimo have to do with nomination power or party control?" and added, "For national normalization, it is only right to cancel fabricated indictments; when the goal is clear, how can there be a factional gathering?"