People Power Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok wipes tears during a press conference at the National Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Saturday. Yonhap

By Nam Hyun-woo

Continued infighting within the ruling People Power Party (PPP) is anticipated to deepen further as the party remains divided and shows mixed responses to its suspended Chairman Lee Jun-seok's tearful outcry against the mainstream faction close to President Yoon Suk-yeol, who he claims plotted to strip him of the chairmanship.

Lee held an hour-long press conference, Saturday, and lambasted "Yoonhaekgwan," translated as Yoon's key associates in Korean, for not living up to people's expectations and losing public support.

"The PPP, which is now loyal to a certain organization, should be burnt," Lee said. "The party is now dying and nobody will vote for a dead party."

Lee named PPP floor leader Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, Reps. Chang Je-won and Lee Chul-gyu as Yoon's key associates and said they should run for office in opposition stronghold regions in the 2024 general election, in order to escape being blamed as "Yoonhaekgwans living in their manors."

He also claimed that Yoon used to refer to him using an obscene word, but he had to tolerate such abuses for the sake of victory in the March 9 presidential election.

Lee's outcry came after the party decided to switch to an emergency leadership system last week, which will effectively end his chairmanship. The party has already named Rep. Joo Ho-young as its interim leader and seeks to launch the emergency committee this week. Lee has filed for a court injunction against the PPP's leadership transition.

Lee's party membership was suspended last month by the PPP's ethics committee over allegations that he attempted to cover up evidence that he received sexual favors as a bribe. Lee claims he is innocent.

Last week, Lee filed for an injunction against the PPP's leadership transition.

People Power Party floor leader Kweon Seong-dong, center, speaks as he visits Sadang-dong in Dongjak District, Seoul, Aug. 11, to help citizens damaged by last week's heavy rainfall. On the right is former lawmaker Na Kyung-won. Joint Press Corps

Over his emotional press conference, PPP members showed mixed responses.

In an interview with the Gangwon Ilbo, Rep. Lee, who was named among the Yoonhaekgwan, said, "Lee should learn politics from scratch" and he will "run the general election in the Jeolla provinces if Lee leaves the earth." The Jeolla provinces are the traditional strongholds of the liberal main opposition Democratic Party of Korea.

"Lee crossed the line during yesterday's press conference," Na Kyung-won, former PPP floor leader and one of the frontrunners seeking the party's leadership, wrote on Facebook, Sunday. "Since he was a young party chairman, many PPP members, including myself, endured a lot and showed our respects to him. … He should stop trying to overcome his political and judicial crisis with tears and prevent himself from making further conflicts in the ruling bloc."

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo also wrote, "Lee should think about why Yoon swore at him."

On the other hand, some PPP members showed support for Lee.

First-term lawmaker Rep. Kim Woong wrote on Facebook, "Nevertheless, we will move forward" and described Lee as "our proud and heartbreaking PPP chairman."

Against this backdrop, chances are high that the party may see its internal feud deepen. Lee has said he will not leave the PPP to create a new party, but speculation is mounting that Lee and former PPP lawmaker Yoo Seong-min will form a coalition for new conservative party.