"Is Lee Interfering in Party Affairs Like Yoon Did?" DPK Spokesperson Lee Ji-eun Resigns

[Financial News] Lee Ji-eun, a spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), who drew backlash from pro-Lee supporters after mentioning former President Yoon Suk Yeol while discussing the possibility of Lee Jae-myung interfering in party affairs, announced on the 10th that she was stepping down.
In a post on social media that day, Lee said, "My language was not sufficiently refined. Whatever my true intention was, if I failed to convey that sincerity and caused the party trouble, I have no choice but to admit that I lacked the ability to serve as a spokesperson." She then said she would resign.
Earlier, on the 9th, Lee appeared on the pro-DPK YouTube program "Park Si-young TV" and said, "Yoon Suk Yeol was criticized heavily for picking someone to make them party leader. Is the president doing that now? Surely not." Her remarks came in response to claims by some that Kim Min-seok was being pushed to become party leader after DPK leaders, including party chair Jung Chung-rae, did not attend a send-off event for Lee Jae-myung's European tour, with Prime Minister of South Korea Kim Min-seok attending instead.
During the broadcast, Lee also read a viewer comment that said, "The DPK is not the private fiefdom of any individual. I hope this president remembers that. Surely he is not the first president to break apart a party."
Once the remarks became known, criticism spread through online communities aligned with the pro-Lee camp, with some calling it "serious misconduct." Kang Jun-hyun, the DPK's chief spokesperson, told reporters that the leadership was also considering demands for Lee's departure from the party and her expulsion.
Political observers say the controversy is an example of long-simmering factional tensions within the party surfacing ahead of the August party convention. Lee previously served as Regional Committee Chair for Mapo Gap, Seoul, which borders Jung's district of Mapo B, and is widely seen within the party as close to the party chair. Analysts also say the dispute has exposed internal conflict publicly as the race for the next party leadership begins in earnest.

jiwon.song@fnnews.com Song Ji-won Reporter