'Party Leader Poll No.1' Lee Jun-seok: "Not Creating Gender Conflict... Also No.1 Among Women"

Lee Jun-seok, former Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party.

[Asia Economy Reporter Joo-mi Lee] Former Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party, Lee Jun-seok, who ranked first in the party leader election opinion poll, expressed the view that "it will be difficult to engage in politics without addressing gender issues."

In an interview with MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 17th, Lee said, "Gender issues are the ones that the younger generation is most interested in."

When asked if his recent gender conflict with former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon had created a spotlight effect, Lee claimed, "I ranked first not only among men but also among women in the opinion poll," adding, "Therefore, it is hard to see it as creating a 'gender conflict structure'." This appears to be a rebuttal to the criticism that he is making sexist remarks to appeal to the 'I-namja' (men in their 20s) vote.

He emphasized, "It is not because I had a verbal battle with Professor Jin," but "the younger generation is increasingly interested in social consensus on gender issues."

Regarding his ranking first across all age groups except those in their 60s, Lee analyzed, "It seems that the memory of the recent election victory is influencing many people."

He continued, "My leading role in the (April 7 by-elections) was widely reported, and people remember that not only I but also young people were at the center during the election process, so it seems that more people believe that this should be the case in bigger elections as well."

When asked if he was confident about bringing former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl into the party, he replied, "Whether I go to bring him or not, he is not someone who will come just because I do, nor will he refuse to come just because I don't go." He added, "I take a principled approach to handling many things, so I will objectively listen to the demands of both Representative Ahn Cheol-soo and Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl and discuss them with party members."

He added, "Anyway, they all have big dreams, and they will evaluate whether a fair competitive environment has been created within our party and participate accordingly. Therefore, I promise to establish a framework for fair competition so that no one is disadvantaged."

Earlier, according to an opinion poll conducted by PNR commissioned by Money Today The300 and the Future Korea Research Institute and released on the 16th, Lee ranked first in suitability for the People Power Party leader with 20.4%. Former lawmaker Na, who had held the top spot, received 15.5%.

Lee received particularly enthusiastic support from men. 25.2% of men supported Lee, while former lawmaker Na received 15.8% support from men. Among women, Lee received 15.6%, slightly ahead of Na's 15.2%.

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