"Youth Unable to Run in Presidential Election... Remarkable Victory" Foreign Media Also Focus on Lee Jun-seok's Election as People Power Party Leader

On the 11th, at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, newly elected party leader Lee Jun-seok is seen with a bright expression during the party convention.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Seoyoung] Attention is focused not only domestically but also internationally on Lee Jun-seok, the newly elected leader of the People Power Party.

On the 11th, the US Bloomberg News reported, "South Korea's main opposition party has elected a 36-year-old leader who has never served as a member of the National Assembly." Bloomberg stated, "(The People Power Party) has chosen a reform supporter as its leader to win next year's presidential election," and predicted that "Leader Lee is appealing to the younger generation in Korean society."

Bloomberg also noted that Lee was once a member of the conservative party led by former President Park Geun-hye but later criticized Park's criminal acts. Additionally, it pointed out that under South Korea's current constitution, only those aged 40 or older can run for president, clarifying that Lee cannot run in next year's presidential election.

Chinese media also reported on Lee's election. The Chinese internet newspaper Pengpai Xinwen stated, "A so-called 'Lee Jun-seok storm' has swept through South Korean politics." It added, "Discussions surrounding this are spreading to other parties," interpreting that "the rise of a young politician has shocked South Korean politics." They also evaluated, "Lee Jun-seok's emergence is an unusual event in South Korean politics, which places great importance on career history."

Furthermore, Japan's Kyodo News reported, "Leader Lee achieved a surprising victory as the youngest leader in a conservative party." It explained the driving force and prospects behind Lee's election, saying, "(Leader Lee) is currently under 40 and cannot run in next year's presidential election," but "he is expected to receive support from those who believe the party must be renewed through generational change."

Japan's public broadcaster NHK also published an article titled "36-year-old leads South Korea's main opposition party." They introduced Lee's background before entering politics, stating, "Leader Lee was elected by defeating four veteran politicians in their 50s or older and aims to expand support among the younger generation," and "He graduated from a prestigious high school in Seoul, studied computer engineering at Harvard University in the United States, and then founded a venture company."

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