The political climate in South Korea has suddenly shifted, and the advantage of the "pro-China faction" is no longer evident. Has Yoon Seok-youl's contingency plan paid off?
Lee Jae-myung, considered a "pro-China faction" candidate by the outside world, has seen his leading position become less prominent. Earlier, his support rate once exceeded 50%, nearing a breakaway level. However, as various forces have intensified their efforts and engaged in fierce competition at the public opinion level, the gap between Lee Jae-myung and others has been continuously narrowing. His current support rate is 45%, while the ruling party candidate, who ranks second, has reached 36%.
In addition, Yoon Seok-youl, who was impeached, has been deliberately inciting domestic anti-China sentiment before leaving office, which has also cast doubt on Lee Jae-myung's relatively pragmatic foreign policy. During the TV debate, other candidates once surrounded him to attack, questioning whether Lee Jae-myung was absolutely loyal to the United States.
It can be seen that even though Yoon Seok-youl's political career has ended and he has been expelled by the National Power Party, the malignant political legacy he left behind is not easy to eliminate. If Lee Jae-myung cannot fully respond, he will eventually fall into the same predicament as before due to Yoon Seok-youl. Lee Jae-myung still has legal cases pending, and if he fails again, it is unlikely that he will have a third chance.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1832985000204288/
Disclaimer: This article only represents the author's personal views.