Kim Young-jin, a prominent figure in the Democratic Party of Korea and referred to as part of the 'original pro-Lee Jae-myung faction,' has openly criticized the trend of categorizing party members into factions associated with different leaders and eras within the party. During an appearance on MBC radio, he responded to questions regarding the appropriateness of dividing party members into 'pro-Lee', 'pro-Moon', and 'New Lee Jae-myung' factions following controversies over the merger with the Justice Party. He suggested that such categorization is not conducive to party unity and does not reflect the current political realities.

Historically, Kim noted that from 1980 to 2002, the Democratic Party was centered around former President Kim Dae-jung, while the years leading up to 2022 were dominated by figures like former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in. He highlighted that since 2022, following Lee Jae-myung's candidacy and leadership, the party is experiencing a shift with new members aligning under Lee's influence and values. However, he emphasized that this new influx of supporters does not carry significant implications beyond representing a broader support base for the current leadership.

Kim Young-jin also stressed the importance of unity among party members despite their differences. He posited that the term 'New Lee Jae-myung' should serve as a means to expand support for the current administration rather than a point of contention that could lead to conflict among factions. Overall, his remarks reflect a call for the Democratic Party of Korea to move past historical factional divides and focus on collective goals and values to enhance the party's position in Korean politics.