Jin Joong-kwon "Yoon Unlikely to Join People Power Party Immediately" vs Lee Jun-seok "Jin Joong-kwon Unaware of Many Details" Heated Debate

Jin Joong-kwon "Yoon Seok-yeol plans unification after rallying moderate voters outside"
Lee Jun-seok "Professor Jin is unaware of many details"

Former Dongyang University Professor Jin Joong-kwon (left), Lee Jun-seok, Leader of the People Power Party / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon said on the 12th about former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, "I understand that he is playing a role in rallying the moderate voters from outside and plans to unify with the People Power Party candidate at the end." In response, Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, stated that they are strategically responding to Yoon’s party entry and unification, and that there are matters that cannot be fully disclosed to the media.

On the same day, former professor Jin appeared on CBS Radio and revealed that he met former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol on the 9th. He said, "There is a theme of 'freedom' that this person holds. He mentioned that it is somewhat different in tone from the so-called free-market fundamentalism or libertarianism that the People Power Party talks about." He added, "I took it to mean that (Yoon) intends to stay more outside."

On the morning of the 13th, Yoon Seok-yeol, a presidential election preliminary candidate, visited a real estate agency in Dobong-gu, Seoul, as part of his fifth "Yoon Seok-yeol Listens" campaign. He is listening to the voices from the field conveyed by Bang Jin-gi, the head of the Dobong-gu branch of the Korea Association of Realtors. Photo by Yoon Seok-yeol Preliminary Candidate Camp

In response to former professor Jin’s remarks, Lee Jun-seok rebutted in an interview with MBN on the 13th, saying, "There are many things that Professor Jin does not know." Regarding the November opposition unification mentioned by former People Power Party emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in, Lee emphasized, "Not everything that former Chairman Kim says to the media is true."

Lee added, "Former Chairman Kim and I continue to communicate and exchange views broadly on these issues. Ahead of the presidential election, some of our communication is somewhat strategic."

He further stressed, "There are aspects that are difficult to disclose publicly in the media, but I am certain about one thing." Lee’s remarks are interpreted as indicating that, as party leader ahead of the upcoming presidential election, there are political calculations that cannot be disclosed externally.

Regarding the recent controversy surrounding Yoon’s mother-in-law, Choi, Lee emphasized, "It is a matter for the public to judge comprehensively." He explained, "Would Yoon have married after seeing his mother-in-law? Elected officials are judged by the public who know this information and vote accordingly."

He also mentioned Lee Jae-myung, the ruling party’s presidential candidate and Governor of Gyeonggi Province, saying, "It is known that he had several legal issues before becoming governor, but he was still elected by vote." He added, "Appointed positions are scrutinized in detail, but for elected positions, the public knows the candidate’s information and votes."

Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, is heading to the funeral hall set up for the late Choi Young-seop, retired Navy Colonel and father of former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, at Yonsei University Severance Hospital in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 8th to pay his respects.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, who recently decided to run for president, is reportedly coordinating his entry into the People Power Party. On the 13th, Choi personally called Lee Jun-seok to express gratitude for condolences on his father’s passing.

Kim Young-woo, former member of the Future United Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) and representative of Choi’s side, stated on the same day, "Former Chairman Choi clearly believes that representative democracy is difficult without party politics."

Regarding this, Lee said, "Presidential candidates outside the party should reflect on whether the time they spend outside the party is very efficient and useful." He continued, "In the reality of COVID-19, it is difficult for them to make external moves. There will come a time when they realize that strengthening communication within the party and interacting with party lawmakers will help their presidential campaigns."

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