Democratic Party's election loss blamed on 'lazy' strategy, voter distrust

Im Mi-ae, a lawmaker and the Gyeongbuk Provincial Party Chair for the Democratic Party of Korea, has sharply criticized her party's electoral performance, particularly its defeat in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region during the recent local elections. She stated that the Democratic Party lost due to a strategic failure, not solely because of conservative consolidation.

“

The Democratic Party lost. From the perspective of Daegu and Gyeongbuk, it was a failure of strategy.

Im explained that while there was initial strong support for Kim Boo-kyum in the Daegu mayoral race, the sentiment among voters went deeper than just a conservative backlash. She argued that the Democratic Party's slogan, "Normalization of State Affairs after Ending Rebellion," did not connect with most Daegu-Gyeongbuk residents. According to Im, voters were more focused on future-oriented strategies rather than issues already being handled by the judiciary.

“

The people of Daegu and Gyeongbuk did not sympathize with the Democratic Party's slogan 'Normalization of State Affairs after Ending Rebellion.' Rebellions are already being handled in the judicial sphere, so they were interested in future growth strategies.

Furthermore, Im highlighted that approximately three-quarters of voters in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region did not vote for Lee Jae-myung in the previous presidential election. She believes these voters saw no reason for the Democratic Party to hold a supermajority in parliament or control local governments, even if the presidential administration performed well. Concerns about potential abuse of power, fueled by controversies like the "manipulated prosecution special bill" and the "Starbucks incident," amplified these suspicions.

“

The presidential administration is doing well, but the Democratic Party already has too many seats.

Im recounted hearing frequently on the streets that "the president is doing well, but the Democratic Party already has too many seats." This sentiment, she suggested, led voters to use their ballots to check the Democratic Party's power, despite high approval ratings for the president. She also expressed frustration that election news was dominated by conflicts involving Han Dong-hoon and the situation in Pyeongtaek, while the party failed to manage internal conflicts among candidates and supporters, labeling the party's approach as "very lazy."

“

Most regrettably and infuriatingly, all the news was focused on the conflict unfolding in Pyeongtaek and on Han Dong-hoon. The party did not play any role in the process of supporters becoming fragmented beyond the conflicts between camps, and it was incompetent.