Na Kyung-won "Only Advantageous to Yoo Seung-min" vs Lee Jun-seok "Only Yoon Seok-yeol in Mind" Opposition Debate Tensions

Lee Jun-seok "Buses Must Depart on Time"
Na Kyung-won "Opening Doors Before Departure Favors Yoo Seung-min"
Opposition Party Leader Debate Heats Up with 'Faction Dispute'

Joo Ho-young (from the left), Lee Jun-seok, and Na Kyung-won, candidates running for the People Power Party leadership election, are attending a 100-minute debate held on the 31st of last month at the MBC Studio in Sangam, Mapo-gu, Seoul. / Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] The factional dispute among the People Power Party's leadership candidates extended to a TV debate. Senior candidates launched fierce attacks, classifying candidate Lee Joon-seok as part of the 'Yoo Seung-min faction.' Candidate Lee fired back at candidate Na Kyung-won, saying, "You only have Yoon Seok-yeol on your mind."

On the 31st, during MBC's 100-Minute Debate, candidates Na Kyung-won, Joo Ho-young, and Hong Moon-pyo focused their attacks on candidate Lee, pointing out issues of 'factional politics.'

The candidates first debated plans for unifying candidates to win the presidential election. When candidate Na asked, "Candidate Lee said the bus (primary) departs at a set time and from a set stop, but are you saying you would start the bus (primary) even if former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol hadn't joined our party?" Lee responded, "You can't set the rules to suit the candidates. The moment you mention the name Yoon Seok-yeol here, it proves that Yoon Seok-yeol is all you have on your mind, candidate Na," he retorted.

Candidate Lee continued, "What do other presidential candidates watching this broadcast think?" and emphasized, "The reason we won the April 7 Seoul mayoral election was because we didn't wait for outsiders and started the bus on time. We selected a candidate through fair competition and won."

Candidate Na then pointed out again, "Isn't it an advantage for former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min if only our party departs the bus on its own schedule? I have such concerns," to which candidate Lee replied, "You seem like someone who has never ridden the bus. How is that a 'departure with open doors'? Boarding at the stop is a personal choice. If our party operates according to individual circumstances, it ceases to be a public party and becomes a private faction."

Candidate Joo also joined the offensive against candidate Lee. He said, "If we proceed unilaterally according to our party's schedule, it could be perceived as vested interests," adding, "Candidates outside may have various circumstances. While we can't indefinitely delay our preparations, a certain amount of time is necessary."

On the afternoon of the 30th of last month, at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju, the joint speech meeting for the People Power Party's party leader and supreme council member candidates was held. Lee Jun-seok (from the left in the photo), Na Kyung-won, Joo Ho-young, Hong Moon-pyo, and Cho Kyung-tae, candidates for party leader, are presenting their policy views. Photo by Yonhap News.

The issue of merging with the People's Party led by Ahn Cheol-soo was also raised. Candidate Joo said, "There are concerns that if candidate Lee becomes the leader, integration with the uncomfortable People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo will become difficult. Also, there are worries because of a special relationship with one of the presidential candidates (former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min)," and pointed out, "Even if we don't want to talk about factions, there could be disputes due to the relationship between candidate Lee and Yoo Seung-min."

In response, candidate Lee said, "I am from the Bareun Party, and at that time, Yoo was the presidential candidate. If you consider the Bareun Party as a broad faction, then yes, there is one."

Candidate Lee further addressed suspicions that he was using former lawmaker Yoo's office, stating, "I only used it briefly for media interviews," and explained, "There isn't a single one of my belongings there. I used that place a few times for interviews, but I have my own office in Sangye-dong, Nowon-gu."

Meanwhile, the party leadership candidates began joint speeches starting on the 30th of last month at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju and will hold joint speeches in five cities nationwide. The election results will be announced on the 11th, and the leader will be selected by combining 70% party member votes and 30% public opinion polls.

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