Lee Jun-seok, Who Declared Candidacy, Says "Must Not Be Cowardly... Will Introduce 'Competitive Selection System'"

Application of Competitive Method in Party Member and Presidential Candidate Selection
Joo Ho-young Refutes Claims of 'Women and Youth Quota System'

Former People Power Party Supreme Council Member Lee Jun-seok Running for Party Leader [Image Source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Former Supreme Council Member Lee Jun-seok officially announced his candidacy for the People Power Party leadership on the 20th, stating, "We must not be cowardly. And we must open everything up."

At a press conference held at the People Power Party headquarters that day, the former Supreme Council Member said, "We achieved a valuable victory at the end of a long and dark tunnel following the impeachment," and added, "Amid the lingering victory, I suffer from anxiety every day. It is an undeserved victory obtained by chance."

He continued, "To sustain the support of the young voter base, we must change significantly," and said, "Those cowards who lacked the courage to sound the alarm when the Park Geun-hye administration was heading in the wrong direction are being punished." He also emphasized, "If I become party leader, we will no longer abandon truth and sound reasoning, and we will not be cowardly."

Regarding methods to reform the party, he emphasized 'openness and competition.' He stated, "If I become party leader, I will introduce a competitive selection system for major party positions so that anyone with ability can participate in party activities based on their skills." This means that when selecting party positions responsible for spokesperson, strategy, and planning duties, anyone can participate through competitive methods such as debate battles, policy contests, and speech competitions.

He also announced that, to become a competent political party, starting from next year's local elections, the party will require all candidates nominated by the party for public office to meet minimum qualifications similar to the National Competency Standards (NCS). During the presidential primary process, he proposed a '2:2 team debate battle' method to enable free discussion and cooperation among presidential candidates.

Immediately after the press conference, he gave his evaluation of other party leadership candidates during a session with reporters. Regarding former lawmaker Na Kyung-won, who declared her candidacy on the same day, he defended her by saying, "It is not right to label her as a hardliner just because she fought for about a year during her 20 years of political career."

On the other hand, about former floor leader Joo Ho-young, he said, "Under former leader Joo's leadership last year, the People Power Party leadership did well," but pointed out, "However, there are concerns regarding communication with the younger generation." He added, "The quota system for women, youth, and Honam cannot gain the sympathy of young voters," and argued, "Even if quotas are implemented, competitive elections must be held."

Regarding concerns from some quarters about his 'lack of floor experience,' he retorted, "How do you plan to recruit presidential candidates who have no floor experience or political experience?" and questioned, "If former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl outside the party hears this, he would be quite surprised."

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