Lee Jun-seok: "'Ruling Party Speakers' Jeong Bong-ju and Son Hye-won Could Serve as Proportional Representation Party"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] On the 25th, Lee Jun-seok, Supreme Council Member of the United Future Party, commented on the ruling party's rumors of forming a proportional satellite party, saying, "There are people in the ruling party who speak very frequently and have loud voices, notably Representative Jeong Bong-ju and Representative Son Hye-won, who I think might serve as focal points."

Through the morning radio program 'Lee Sang-hwi's Morning Journal' on bbs radio that morning, Supreme Council Member Lee forecasted, "There is a part that can gather female supporters of the ruling party."

He said, "When interacting with Democratic Party figures, they say that due to their many statements and their relationship with the Justice Party, it would be difficult to form a party directly," but added, "However, because the issue of realistic seats is at stake, they will have no choice but to prepare."

Supreme Council Member Lee added, "There are already peripheral organizations that claim to be voluntary, such as the 'Kkaesimin Party' and others in the party formation preparation stage, and I believe these groups have naturally been preparing with the proportional satellite party form in mind," and "I also think ruling party speakers like Representatives Jeong Bong-ju, Son Hye-won, and Choi Min-hee might serve as other focal points."

He particularly noted, "Yoon Gun-young, former head of the Blue House's National Situation Room, made remarks about this, and since he is known as a close aide to the president, his political statements make one think they align with the president's intentions," and "Therefore, I think the ruling party will actively discuss this."

Regarding the election postponement theory raised in some political circles, Supreme Council Member Lee said, "There is precedent where even during war, the election date was not moved," and "Some say the virus will be contained within a month, so a slight delay would suffice, but others believe it will continue until a vaccine is developed or until August or September. Since it is difficult to specify a time, postponing will also be difficult."

He said, "Even if the general election is postponed, it will not affect the outcome," and "Since the ruling party's economic failures have already been significantly highlighted, the normal result will not differ."

Regarding Kim Hyung-oh, the party's nomination committee chairman, cutting off Representative Lee Hye-hoon, Supreme Council Member Lee said, "It was a judgment made in the process of mechanical neutrality or balancing proportions." He analyzed, "Looking at the current results, efforts are being made to balance the numbers between so-called factions or cliques within the party," and "The nomination committee's unavoidable concern is that a considerable level of reshuffling must occur in this election, and if numerical fairness is broken, collective backlash is inevitable."

Supreme Council Member Lee said, "In the past, the pro-Lee and pro-Park factions claimed nomination massacres and it became an issue because, at that time, one side was visibly massacring the other, which caused dissatisfaction," and "Chairman Kim is well aware of the public's criticism and reproach, so he will try to avoid such issues as much as possible."

Regarding Representative Yoo Seung-min's political comeback timing, he said, "Representative Yoo always made significant political decisions and often had periods of self-restraint or reflection," predicting it will take time. About the possibility of his role in the general election, he said, "He could play a positive role in expanding the centrist base, but conversely, since Representative Hwang Kyo-ahn has withdrawn into his constituency election and gone under the radar, it could send different signals to the traditional conservative base and sometimes cause misunderstandings," and "He will consider these factors comprehensively when contemplating his role."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.