Lee Jun-seok Expresses Displeasure Toward People Party... "At Least Show Basic Courtesy"

Lee Jun-seok, the candidate for the People Power Party leader, is presenting his vision at Nurikkum Square in Mapo-gu, Seoul, on the 25th of last month. / Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Bo-ryeong] Lee Jun-seok, former Supreme Council member who ran for the next leader of the People Power Party, expressed displeasure toward the People Party, saying "at least show some courtesy."

On the 3rd, Lee appeared on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" and stated, "It is originally very rude to talk about candidates in another party's leadership election."

This is interpreted as being conscious of recent remarks by Kwon Eun-hee, floor leader of the People Party, about Lee. Kwon criticized Lee the day before, saying, "The vested interests with organizations and money mocked and tried to make the People Party, which is deliberating a merger with the People Power Party, kneel by saying 'We will pay well for cattle,'" showing old-fashioned politics. Last month, Lee said that if he became the leader of the People Power Party, he viewed the merger negatively.

In response, Lee said, "I understand the People Party's urgent feelings, but shouldn't they at least show some courtesy?" and rebutted, "Someone outside the party saying 'I don't like that person' about an internal party leadership election?is that a political commentator?"

Lee did not oppose the merger with the People Party. Regarding Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People Party, he said, "As a presidential candidate, he has quite good public support and I think he is a very excellent person," adding, "Therefore, if Leader Ahn wants to join our party, he can participate in the Daeseong primary without any problem by going through the merger or admission procedures before the bus departs under the same standards. There will be no situation to block that."

However, he clearly expressed that he could not fully acknowledge the People Party's share in the merger. Lee said, "I don't think I can give a generous evaluation to the hastily formed party organization that Leader Ahn reportedly supported about 70 people this time," emphasizing, "Is it fair to put those people as regional leaders, pushing aside those who have worked hard in our party? I think the People Party side should not make unreasonable demands on that part."

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