Lee Jun-seok "Hong Jun-pyo's Reinstatement... If Yoon Seok-yeol Can Do It, Why Stop Him?"

Former Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party, Lee Jun-seok. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jumi Lee] As independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo declared his return to the People Power Party, former People Power Party Supreme Council member Lee Jun-seok expressed the position that there is "no reason to block (his return)."

On the 10th, Lee, the former Supreme Council member, stated on CBS Radio's 'Kim Jong-dae's News Up,' "Personally, I have had some bad experiences with lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo, but I cannot oppose his return."

Lee explained, "In fact, our party is planning to open its doors to former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and leader Ahn Cheol-soo ahead of next year's presidential election. Leader Ahn, for example, has harshly criticized our party many times in the past, and former Prosecutor General Yoon is someone who sent two presidents from our party to prison."

He continued, "If the party is willing to open its doors to such a spectrum, is there any reason to block lawmaker Hong, who left after fighting over nominations, from coming back?"

He added, "I see this as a matter of fairness. Factional interests or personal grudges should not come into play."

Hong Joon-pyo, Independent Member of Parliament.

Earlier on the same day (the 10th), lawmaker Hong held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office and applied for reinstatement to the People Power Party, saying, "It is time to return to the party."

Meanwhile, debates among party leadership candidates continue over Hong's reinstatement. Former floor leader Joo Ho-young expressed support, saying, "To lead the next presidential election to victory, great unity is necessary." On the other hand, lawmaker Kim Woong clearly opposed, stating, "I vividly remember how a single word caused our party's image to plummet."

In public opinion polls, one out of two citizens supported Hong's return. According to a survey announced on the 9th, commissioned by Money Today The300 and the Future Korea Research Institute to polling agency PNR, 47.0% were in favor of reinstatement, while 34.9% opposed it. Notably, 64.7% of People Power Party supporters expressed support.

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