Na Kyung-won and Lee Jun-seok Clash Again Over Opposition Unity... "How Will You Handle Your Bad Blood with Ahn Cheol-soo?"

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The issue of former People Power Party (PPP) Supreme Council member Lee Jun-seok's ability to unify the opposition was once again a focal point in the PPP party leader candidate debate. Former lawmaker Na Kyung-won and lawmaker Joo Ho-young pointed out obstacles in the process of unifying presidential candidates next year, mentioning the relationship between Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, and former Supreme Council member Lee.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the PPP party leader TV debate hosted by MBN on the 1st, former lawmaker Na asked lawmaker Joo, who previously served as the acting party leader, about the progress of the merger with the People’s Party, then said, "Can we understand that if former Supreme Council member Lee becomes party leader, the merger will become difficult?"

In response, former Supreme Council member Lee said, "If you really understand it that way, you lack comprehension," adding, "I will seriously discuss the merger issue with the People’s Party several times, understanding Ahn’s value as a presidential candidate."

Former lawmaker Na then cited People’s Party floor leader Kwon Eun-hee’s remark that "if Lee Jun-seok becomes party leader, integration will become difficult," and pointed out, "There seem to be deep emotional rifts beyond personal feelings between former leader Ahn and former Supreme Council member Lee." Referring to Lee’s so-called ‘bus theory’ that the primary schedule cannot be delayed for former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, Na criticized, "Even if former Yoon does not board, the integration bus will depart, and if integration with Ahn is difficult, isn’t opposition unification becoming more distant?"

Former Supreme Council member Lee countered, "Listening to former lawmaker Na’s remarks, I think there is a lack of ability to fairly manage the primary," and criticized, "I cannot understand why whether former Yoon boards the bus or not should be an important factor in the bus’s operation." He then mentioned Na’s reference to Lee’s faction and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, and counterattacked, "Can you entrust presidential management to someone who shows hostility toward former Yoo?"

Lawmaker Joo also said, "There might be distortion due to a bad personal relationship with leader Ahn." In response, former Supreme Council member Lee said, "At least anyone in politics should act with fairness," adding, "Having a bad relationship with leader Ahn will not be reflected in the public domain."

While the previous day’s debate focused on Lee’s affiliation with the Yoo Seung-min faction, this day’s debate dealt with the issue of integration with leader Ahn, marking a difference.

Former lawmaker Na’s comparison of former Supreme Council member Lee to former U.S. President Donald Trump also sparked controversy. Lee asked, "Can you introduce the hateful remarks I made?" demanding that Na provide grounds for comparing him to Trump. When Na referred to a column by former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon, Lee again requested, "Please do not rely on former professor Jin and introduce the remarks yourself."

Former lawmaker Na then mentioned the disciplinary issue related to Lee’s past remarks about leader Ahn. Lee responded, "It was a remark made in private," adding, "At that time, I said, ‘If leader Ahn becomes like that, he becomes a b*stard.’ I don’t know if that is a problematic remark."

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