Speculation grows of rift within ruling bloc

AI핵심 요약

• ·President Lee Jae Myung (left) and Democratic Party chair Rep, Jung Chung-rae (Yonhap) A rift within the ruling bloc appears to be widening ahead of the Democratic Party of Korea's leadership primary in August.
• ·A key point of contention is whether Rep.
• ·Jung Chung-rae, the beleaguered party chair, will seek to extend his term that began in August 2025, with pressure mounting following his recent remarks that no administration would outlive its people.
• ·President Lee Jae Myung, who is currently on a state visit to Italy and the Vatican, said in an X post that it was not the right time for the ruling party to take a confrontational stance in the pursuit of political ideals.
• ·"The ruling party's passion must be directed at the entire nation, not 'our bloc,'" Lee said, urging the ruling party to "mediate conflicts and minimize trouble within the liberal bloc" instead of instigating "confrontation and exclusion." "If we are to use our true strength, I would prefer to act like a vast ocean that embraces and purifies everything, instead of a torrent that sweeps everything away." A Jung aide downplayed the notion of conflict between Lee and Jung.