Political CommentatorIt is a truly peculiar affair. The ideological struggle and internal conflict within the leftist camp have spilled out into the open. It stems from the uncontrollable obstinacy of Kim Min-woong, the older brother of Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, who is 70 years old. This time, he has taken a direct shot at President Lee Jae-myung. He has publicly criticized Lee’s pragmatic diplomacy toward Japan, calling it "worrying."

He specifically targeted Lee’s remarks made during an interview with the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri ahead of the Korea-Japan summit (on the 23rd), where Lee stated regarding the issues of "comfort women" and forced labor, "It is not desirable to overturn agreements already reached between nations." This was not just a passing comment. Kim Min-woong lashed out, claiming that "the first button of Korea-Japan relations is being misaligned, and that is a failure to fulfill the duties of a sovereign state."

According to him, the so-called pro-Japanese, treacherous policies of the Yoon Suk-yeol era are issues that the current Lee Jae-myung administration should correct a thousand or even ten thousand times over. Yet, he protests, how can the Lee Jae-myung administration itself grant absolution for Japan’s history of colonial crimes? It is astounding. This is not the first time Kim Min-woong has acted out. Not long ago, he caused embarrassment for Lee Jae-myung by brandishing the slogan, "Yankee Go Home!"

In a Facebook post titled "The Task of Sending U.S. Forces in Korea Back Home," he poured out harsh rhetoric, stating, "The so-called ROK-U.S. alliance, which this country serves like a golden rule, is no different from throwing us into the maw of imperialism." What does this mean? With both the Korea-Japan summit and the U.S.-Japan summit looming, it is evidence that the leftist world is currently mired in an unrefined ideological struggle.

Moreover, the identity of the person shouting such things is shocking. He holds the title of representative of the Candlelight Action. He is an activist leader and former professor at Sungkonghoe University who led the movement for the resignation of Yoon Suk-yeol, and it is said he even carries the title of pastor. What is he trying to do? Is he the voice of the Lee Jae-myung administration's anti-American instinct? Is this a strange spectacle where Lee Jae-myung sits quietly while Kim Min-woong plays the villain?

First, it must be noted that unlike Lee Jae-myung, Kim Min-woong belongs to the far-left Taliban group. The fact that he is shouting the archaic slogan "Yankee Go Home!"—when it is no longer the 1980s era of the *Jusa-pa* (NL faction)—is proof of this. Even the university protest flyers of the past were not this crude or dogmatic. And the imperialist mantra he recites like a parrot was pioneered none other than by the professional revolutionary Vladimir Lenin over 100 years ago.

In that context, Kim Min-woong has essentially taken a head-on swipe at President Lee Jae-myung, who has just begun his pragmatic diplomacy toward Japan. The problem is the mechanism behind it. Kim Min-woong has been leading impeachment rallies since the early days of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and was a key figure in rallying the extra-parliamentary leftist forces during the martial law and impeachment phase. Because of this, he is one of those who believes they created the Lee Jae-myung administration.

There is also a view that this influence played a role in his younger brother, Kim Min-seok, being appointed Prime Minister. However, it is safe to say that this has gone too far, and Lee Jae-myung is now feeling burdened by it. Furthermore, there is the signal currently being sent by the U.S. We remember the remarks made a while ago by Carla Sands, who served as ambassador to Denmark during the first Trump administration. She took a jab at the Democratic Party of Korea leader Jung Chung-rae, stating, "He is a far-leftist whom even Obama refused entry to."

From the perspective of the U.S. Trump administration, the Republic of Korea is surely a most unpleasant nation, with Prime Minister Kim Min-seok—a man with a record of anti-American activity—leading an anti-American cabinet, and his brother Kim Min-woong acting out even more wildly. They remember that before taking office, Lee Jae-myung recklessly referred to the U.S. as an "occupying force." In other words, there is a perception that the party, the government, and the Blue House are all leading a "nation of anti-Americanism."

I fear and worry about what kind of rupture this will cause. There is something else that is interesting. It seems the leftist forces do not always move in a single formation as we might think. It means it is not a neat structure where Paik Nak-chung, the chairman of the Round Table Conference, sits as the center of gravity for both political and civic groups, communicating with North Korea to set the line and urge them forward.

So, is Kim Min-woong’s obstinacy a good sign for the liberal right? Is it an interesting picture showing that they are fracturing or repeating mistakes? Not necessarily. Conflict among them is to be expected as they have already become bloated, and if such friction provokes Lee Jae-myung, this country could fall into even greater danger. What is certain is that since Lee Jae-myung took power, the Republic of Korea remains standing on a precipice.

Cho Woo-seok, Political Commentator