Pro-Myung (Chinmyeong)
Overview
'Chinmyeong (親明)' is a term referring to the political inclination and faction supporting Democratic Party of Korea leader Lee Jae-myung within the party. It extends the tradition of faction names centered on specific figures in the conservative camp, such as 'Chin-Lee (親李, Lee Myung-bak)' and 'Chin-Park (親朴, Park Geun-hye)', and became consolidated as Lee Jae-myung's position within the Democratic Party strengthened after the 2022 presidential election. Beyond being a mere support group, 'Chinmyeong' plays a key role in internal party line struggles and the competition for the next presidential election, establishing itself as one of the major axes of division in South Korean politics.
Main Content
Background and History
The formation of the 'Chinmyeong' faction was triggered during the 20th presidential election in 2022. Candidate Lee Jae-myung won the Democratic Party primary and advanced to the general election, but lost to Yoon Suk-yeol of the People Power Party by a margin of 0.73 percentage points. Subsequently, internal conflicts over maintaining the 'Lee Jae-myung system' and reform surfaced. After the crushing defeat in the June 2022 local elections, criticism of the Lee Jae-myung leadership system grew, but in January 2023, Lee Jae-myung's 'prosecutor appearance' and 'arrest warrant dismissal'—legal risks that instead rallied his support base—led to the rapid expansion of the 'Chinmyeong' faction. At the September 2023 party convention, Lee Jae-myung secured re-election with an overwhelming 77.77% of the vote, solidifying 'Chinmyeong' as the mainstream within the party.
Key Figures and Organizations
The 'Chinmyeong' faction largely consists of 'Lee Jae-myung's direct associates' and 'figures who defected from the non-Myung (bimyeong) faction'. Key figures include Jeong Seong-ho (lawmaker, chief of staff to the party leader), Park Chan-dae (lawmaker, former chief of staff to the party leader), Kim Min-seok (lawmaker), Kang Byung-won (lawmaker), Jin Seong-jun (lawmaker), and Han Jun-ho (lawmaker). In addition to formal organizations like the 'Democratic Party National Innovation Council', there are informal networks with the character of 'Lee Jae-myung support groups'. 'Chinmyeong' is sometimes subdivided into 'reformist' and 'pragmatic' wings, but loyalty to Lee Jae-myung's leadership remains the most important criterion for cohesion.
Policy and Ideological Orientation
The 'Chinmyeong' faction supports Lee Jae-myung's major policy lines. Key policies include the introduction of 'basic income', 'expansion of housing supply and deregulation', 'nurturing advanced industries such as semiconductors and batteries', 'prosecution reform and judicial system overhaul', and 'engagement policy toward North Korea'. Ideologically, it maintains the traditional center-left orientation of the Democratic Party while advocating 'pragmatic progressivism' that emphasizes a balance between economic growth and welfare. However, subtle differences in policy direction exist between 'hardliners' and 'moderates' within 'Chinmyeong'.
Criticism and Controversy
The 'Chinmyeong' faction faces criticism for 'undermining internal party democracy', 'factional egoism', and 'neglecting legal risks'. In particular, as Lee Jae-myung's legal risks (related to the Daejang-dong, Baekhyeon-dong, and perjury instigation cases) persisted after 2023, there are allegations that the 'Chinmyeong' faction frames these as 'prosecutorial dictatorship' and 'political retaliation' while suppressing internal criticism. Controversies over 'factional purges', such as excluding non-Myung (bimyeong) lawmakers from nominations and party positions, also persist. During the 2024 general election process, criticism arose that 'Chinmyeong' nominations were based on 'personal loyalty to Lee Jae-myung', deepening internal party conflicts.
Recent Trends
In the April 2024 general election, the Democratic Party of Korea won a landslide victory with 175 seats, further consolidating the 'Chinmyeong' system. After the election, the influence of the 'non-Myung' faction within the party significantly diminished, and Lee Jae-myung's position as a leading candidate for the next presidential election was further strengthened. As of 2025, the 'Chinmyeong' faction is stably operating the 'second Lee Jae-myung leadership system', promoting 'stopping prosecutorial dictatorship' and 'reviving people's livelihoods' as major agendas. However, with Lee Jae-myung's first-instance sentence of two years in prison for 'perjury instigation' in January 2025, 'legal risks' have resurfaced, and the 'Chinmyeong' faction is responding by arguing the 'politicization of the trial'. Additionally, within the party, there is subtle tension between the 'early presidential election theory' and the 'regime change theory' surrounding Lee Jae-myung's potential candidacy in the next presidential election. As of March 2025, the 'Chinmyeong' faction considers 'managing Lee Jae-myung's legal risks' and 'internal party unity' as its top priorities, and is attempting 'inclusive personnel appointments' to improve relations with the 'non-Myung' faction. The future direction of 'Chinmyeong' is expected to be determined by Lee Jae-myung's legal fate and the landscape of the 2027 presidential election.
Related Topics
- [[Democratic Party of Korea]]
- [[Lee Jae-myung]]
- [[Non-Myung Faction]]
- [[Daejang-dong Development Scandal]]
- [[Prosecution Reform]]