Rep. Jung Chung-rae, left, chairman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, is seen with YouTuber Kim Ou-joon in this image captured from Kim's YouTube channel. Captured from YouTube

Although President Lee Jae Myung has been in office for less than a year, power struggles ahead of the next presidential election have already begun. If not properly managed, these struggles could spiral out of control, ultimately undermining not only Lee’s leadership but also the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).

Tensions are brewing within the ruling camp. Prime Minister Kim Min-seok has been at odds with Kim Ou-joon, a popular progressive YouTuber who wields considerable influence on the left. Within the ruling camp, Kim Ou-joon has emerged as a power broker, allegedly seeking to use his influence to shape the internal power game in favor of his preferred politician — DPK Chairman Jung Chung-rae.

The two Kims clashed over a public opinion survey related to the Seoul mayoral election, scheduled for June 3.

On Dec. 1, 2025, Prime Minister Kim requested polling agencies remove his name from the list of potential candidates, stating that he had no intention of running in the election. His request, however, was ignored. In a recent poll conducted by Flower Research — a polling agency run by Kim Ou-joon — the prime minister’s name appeared on the list of potential candidates.

In the survey, the prime minister ranked third among progressive candidates with a support rate of 7.3 percent, trailing Seongdong District Mayor Chong Won-o and Rep. Park Ju-min of the ruling DPK. Chong topped the poll with 20.9 percent support, followed by Park at 10 percent and the prime minister. Kim Ou-joon disclosed the poll results on his channel.

The Prime Minister’s Office reacted furiously. At the time, Kim Min-seok was on a business trip to the United States. In a text message sent to journalists, the office issued a strongly worded protest.

“Despite our earlier request, some polling agencies continue to survey the........

© The Korea Times