Democratic Party must face reality of narrowing support gap

The Democratic Party faces a critical juncture as recent polls show its support rating has dipped below that of the People Power Party, a reversal of earlier trends. While some surveys still place the Democratic Party ahead, the overall direction indicates a decline for both the party and President Lee Jae-myung's approval ratings.

The primary catalyst for this shift appears to be the fallout from the ballot shortage incident during the recent local elections. However, internal party strife and ongoing debates over responsibility for the election results are also fueling disappointment among the public and party loyalists.

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The ruling party's passion should be directed toward the entire nation, not just 'our faction.'

With the party's national convention approaching in August, speculation is rife about potential candidates for party leader, including current leader Jeong Cheong-rae and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok. Tensions are high, with non-aligned factions pressuring Jeong to resign and consider relinquishing his bid for re-election, while Jeong's allies are reportedly targeting Kim for his perceived role in the election losses.

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The people are eternal, and administrations are short-lived.

President Lee himself has weighed in, posting a message on X suggesting the ruling party's focus should be on the entire nation, not just their own faction. This follows Jeong's earlier statement, "The people are eternal, and administrations are short-lived," which was interpreted as a subtle challenge to the president. Despite this, Jeong has recently softened his stance, acknowledging President Lee's diplomatic achievements.

The ruling party and government are now tasked with urgently addressing the ballot shortage incident, implementing thorough investigations, and reforming the election management committee. Simultaneously, they must tackle pressing economic issues such as inflation, interest rates, employment instability, and polarization. The party leadership race should not impede these essential duties, and President Lee must exercise restraint to avoid perceptions of overt interference in party affairs.

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President Lee is establishing himself as a world-class global leader through his diplomatic capabilities.