Lee Jun-seok: "If Hong Jun-pyo obstructs Yoon Seok-yeol's entry into People Power Party, I will strongly intervene"

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

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Ju-hee] Former Supreme Council Member of the People Power Party, Lee Jun-seok, expressed that if the reinstatement of independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo hinders former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl's entry into the People Power Party, he would strongly oppose it. Lee has maintained a positive stance on Hong's reinstatement so far.

In an interview with KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs' on the 19th, when asked, "Rep. Kim Woong said, 'If Rep. Hong Joon-pyo is reinstated, former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl cannot join the People Power Party,'" Lee replied, "If it becomes an obstacle to (Yoon's entry), I will strongly oppose it."

Regarding the possibility of former Prosecutor General Yoon joining the People Power Party, he said, "Of course, I expect him to join our party and eventually run in an election," adding, "I just hope the timing is not delayed."

Independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 10th, expressing his intention to rejoin the People Power Party. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Earlier, on the 10th, Rep. Hong held a press conference at the National Assembly and expressed his intention to be reinstated into the People Power Party. Hong left the party after failing to receive the nomination from the United Future Party (now People Power Party) in the April 15 general election last year and ran as an independent in Daegu Suseong District, winning the seat. He has been serving as an independent lawmaker for about one year and two months since then.

Currently, there is a division of opinions within the People Power Party regarding Hong's reinstatement. Some lawmakers support it, saying, "There is no reason to block Rep. Hong's reinstatement," but among the first-term lawmakers, concerns are raised about the party regressing to the past, citing Hong's past remarks and behavior.

Meanwhile, Rep. Hong has been criticizing those opposing his reinstatement daily and urging the party to accept him.

On the 11th, he posted on his Facebook, "65% of the People Power Party's support base backs my reinstatement, and except for one (Rep. Kim Woong) among the ten or so candidates running for party leadership, all support my reinstatement," asserting the legitimacy of his return.

He continued, "They baselessly criticize that if I return, people in their 20s and 30s will flee. It's truly absurd," and emphasized, "It is not a democratic party to block the freedom to join a political party just because of opposition from a very small minority."

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