Lee Seong-yoon, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, has apologized for not having examined the recommendation of lawyer Jeon Jun-cheol for a special prosecutor position more closely. He characterized the controversy around this recommendation as an unfounded "conspiracy theory," leaving a possibility for internal conflict within the party. During a recent Supreme Council meeting, he expressed regret that Jeon was thought to be involved in the illegal North Korean remittance scandal when in fact, Jeon's role pertained to unrelated charges against employees of the Ssangbangwool Corporation, distancing him from the accusations against Kim Seong-tae, the former chairman of the company.

The Democratic Party leadership initially attempted to conclude the controversy with Lee's public clarification, but the tensions escalated as other members criticized Lee for allegedly defending Jeon excessively and failing to objectively address the recommendation process. For instance, member Hwang Myeong-seon openly expressed dissatisfaction, remarking that Lee's comments appeared to favor Jeon too much and hinder a necessary objective explanation of the special prosecutor's nomination process. This dissent highlights ongoing divisions among party members regarding accountability and internal processes.

Additionally, Lee Geon-tae, a lawyer involved in the Daejang-dong incident defense, urged Lee Seong-yoon to resign for his handling of the matter. Citing that Jeon’s name was indeed included in Kim Seong-tae's legal team, he emphasized the collaborative nature of defense work, suggesting a contradiction to Lee's claims that Jeon was not associated with the scandal. This ongoing dispute within the Democratic Party over the special prosecutor recommendation reflects deeper tensions amid broader accusations and political maneuvering in South Korea, particularly as the Yoon administration faces scrutiny from opposition parties.