Lee Nak-yon

In 2020 election, Lee stood for Jongno constituency and defeated the UFP President Hwang Kyo-ahn.[22] He took two roles in his party - co-chair of 2020 general election campaign with the other co-chair being then-party leader Lee Hae-chan[23] and the chair of the committee "to overcome the national crisis" caused by Covid-19 pandemic.[24][25] With the party leader Lee Hae-chan hospitalised,[26] Lee traveled across the nation to support his party candidates and was regarded as the de facto commander of his party's campaign in the election.[27][28][29]

In July 2020 Lee announced his campaign for the leader of his party, Democratic Party, highlighting his experiences dealing with "crises" that are much needed in transitioning into post-covid 19 era.[30] If elected, Lee is likely to serve as party leader for 7 months - less than a half of its fixed tenure - following the party rule that mandates party's presidential candidate to resign from party leadership. In this regards, Lee stressed his passion for his calling to be the party leader that he will work like a "flame" during these period.[31] In August 2020 he was elected as the party leader earning more than half of votes in every category - party delegates, its members, non-voting members and public opinion polls.[32]

He relaunched the Covid-19 committee to support the government's efforts to contain the virus and prepare for "post-Covid-19 era."[33] With President Moon praising the relationship between the government and the ruling party "fantastic,"[34] they quickly concluded long-debated issue of secondary COVID-19 relief fund that it should be given to those who are more severely impacted by the pandemic not to all people, which was strongly argued by Gyeonggi Provincial Governor Lee Jae-myung, another presidential contender of his party.[35][36][37] The "Covid-19 committee" was merged with "K New Deal committee" which was also installed to support government's efforts to revitalise the economy and boost its transition into digital and green society.[38]

He appointed senior posts of his party including two remaining members of its Supreme Council he can appoint. Designation of 24-years-old Park Seong-min as one of Supreme Council members surprised many.[39] He also created four spokesperson posts for specific issues - youth, security, economy and international affairs.[40]

On 16 September he launched the independent investigative body of the party (Korean: 윤리감찰단) to produce reports on alleged misconduct of its members to its ethics committee for disciplinary actions as promised during leadership campaign and appointed former judge Choi Ki-sang, assembly member from Geumcheon District, as its chair.[41] The first members to be investigated are Lee Sang-jik and Kim Hong-gul. Lee is accused of several allegations linked to Eastar Jet he founded and Kim his real estate in Seoul.[42] Yoon Mee-hyang who was recruited by the party for her advocacy work for "comfort women" and now accused of using donations for her own gain will not be investigated as she is already indicted by the state prosecutor and suspended of party membership and titles.[42] On 18 September Lee tabled a motion to expel Kim who is a son of Kim Dae-jung, the first President the party has ever produced, and was recruited for his work on inter-Korean relations in civil societies for refusing to cooperate with the investigative body to the Supreme Council and it was adopted.[43][44]

In October 2020, Lee brought up the idea of "committee to reform the party (Korean: 혁신위)" which resembles one led by Kim Sang-gon in 2015 under then-party leader Moon Jae-in. If installed, it is likely to be tasked with introducing measures to reform the nomination process, strengthen its ethics code and prepare the longevity of the party.[45] On 14 October, the party's Supreme Council passed the motion to establish such committee and appoint Kim Jong-min as its chairperson.[46]

In September 2020, as part of Lee's party leader campaign promise to transform the party vigilant to societal issues and prepare the country's future, Lee launched seven task forces dedicated to specific issues from power institution and political reforms to youth affairs and industrial safety and appointed Supreme Council members apart from himself and floor leader as their chairpersons by their expertise.[47] He also launched one for social tragedy countermeasures led by an assembly member from Ansan, Jeon Hae-cheol, who previously chaired party's Sewol disaster committee.[48]

In October the party founded "Korean Peninsula Task force (Korean: 한반도TF)" to support ongoing momentum in Korean peninsula towards peace irrespective of leadership changes in Japan and United States and appointed senior assembly members with expertise in foreign and inter-korean relations as its members and Song Young-gil, the chair of the Assembly's Foreign and Unification Committee, its chair.[49]