"'So Pitiful' Recording Scandal Sparks Heated Arguments... People Power Party Sinks into the 'Swamp of Distrust'"

'That Will Be Sorted Soon' Recording Fallout
Won Hee-ryong Demands "Full File Disclosure"... Lee Responds "So Pitiful," Conflict Escalates
"Forgetting the Greater Cause, Only Engaged in Political Strife" Intra-Party Debate on Regime Change Doubts

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party (left), and Won Hee-ryong, former governor of Jeju Province. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] The conflict between Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, and the party's presidential candidates is escalating to the extreme. Following suspicions of leaked phone call recordings, the parties have exposed exchanged conversations and released recordings, sinking into a 'swamp of distrust.' Amid sharp reactions, ridicule, and provocative remarks toward each other, critics point out that the vision competition aimed at achieving the ultimate goal of regime change in next year's presidential election has been pushed to the sidelines.

Previously, former Jeju Governor and People Power Party presidential candidate Won Hee-ryong clashed with former leader Lee over what Lee's remark during a phone call, "That will be settled soon," referred to.

The conflict began when Won revealed the conversation with Lee at the National Assembly on the 17th. Won stated to reporters, "On August 12, when the leader was in Sangju, during a phone call, the leader said a certain candidate would be 'settled.' This did not mean that the conflict would be resolved but that the candidate's continuity would be ended."

In response, Lee posted the phone call recording on Facebook that night to refute the claim. He argued that the "that" he referred to was not former Prosecutor General Yoon but the 'conflict during the primary process.' On the 18th, Won held an emergency press conference demanding Lee release the entire recording, but Lee dismissed it with the words "How pitiful," intensifying their emotional dispute.

On the 18th, Yoon Seok-yeol, former Prosecutor General and presidential candidate of the People Power Party, finished paying respects at the late former President Kim Dae-jung's gravesite. / Photo by Yonhap News

This is not the first time a phone call recording controversy has arisen within the People Power Party. Earlier, political circles raised suspicions that Lee recorded a phone call with former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl on the 12th, and that the recording was leaked externally. On that day, it was reported that Yoon personally called Lee to express regret over former lawmaker Shin Ji-ho's mention of 'impeachment of the party leader' in the presidential campaign.

Regarding this, Lee rebutted on Facebook on the 15th, stating, "Since the alleged leaked recording file does not exist, naturally, no recorded or leaked transcript exists." He explained, "The conversation with former Prosecutor General Yoon was brief, and most of the content was conveyed orally to journalists during the reporting process, and the orally conveyed parts seem to have been organized into a document." However, Lee's side admitted that the call was recorded using the phone's automatic recording function.

Some criticized Lee for recording calls with party members as inappropriate. On the 18th, former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung pointed out at the Yeouido campaign office, "Recording calls itself indicates a lack of mutual trust in politics, so I think it is inappropriate."

Lee Cheol-gyu, head of the organizational headquarters of Yoon Seok-youl's campaign, also criticized on Facebook on the 14th, saying, "I am shocked to hear news that the party leader recorded a call with his party's leading presidential candidate and that the recording was leaked," adding, "What is worse is the denial of wrongdoing and the claim that such a thing did not happen."

The dispute over the recordings has deepened the rift within the People Power Party. Critics say this fight, involving exposing conversations and releasing recordings, has yielded nothing but mutual distrust. Some within the party even express a sense of crisis that regime change in next year's presidential election may become difficult.

One of the party's presidential candidates, lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook, expressed concern on the 17th, saying, "Have the candidates fallen into partisan political strife, forgetting the greater cause of regime change? Is this the time for candidates to play political games? The public sharply criticizes the leadership for taking sides against a particular candidate, questioning how this helps regime change."

She added, "I sincerely believe that the future of the Republic of Korea depends on whether regime change occurs," and appealed, "Regardless of current approval ratings, we must not forget this greater cause by getting caught up in numbers. I urge the party leadership and candidates to stand before this historic mission, correct their attitudes, and fulfill their respective roles."

Experts analyze that this conflict within the People Power Party will ultimately negatively affect regime change in next year's presidential election. Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon said, "The conflict arose over who would take the lead in the party's presidential primary, but it has escalated into an emotional fight," adding, "Naturally, this does not bode well for next year's election. The responsibility for what happens within the party lies primarily with the leader. As the election approaches, it is necessary to manage the situation so that competition among presidential candidates, rather than conflicts with the leader, can be promoted."

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