Lee Jun-seok "If the leader stays quiet, the candidate rises? ... I will keep pouring cold water"

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, is attending and speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 26th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, stated regarding the presidential candidate primary, "I will continue to pour cold water from now on." This is interpreted as his intention to continuously keep the party alert for a definite presidential victory.

On the 29th, appearing on JTBC, Lee said, "As the party leader, I mentioned that we could lose by a 5% point margin, and then people started saying things like 'Is the leader a spy?' and 'Why are you pouring cold water?'"

In the same context, he expressed concern, saying, "Those who think like 'as long as you become the candidate' by recalling elections where conservatives were dominant, like when President Lee Myung-bak was elected, are trying to play something similar to bed football."

Regarding some criticisms that "the leader talks too much and does self-politics," Lee said, "The party leader must do self-politics," adding, "I only hope it is in a direction beneficial to the party."

He continued, "Doesn't the candidate do self-politics? I don't understand the idea that the leader must be quiet for the candidate to rise. Did the candidate rise when I was quiet?" he questioned.

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, a preliminary presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is answering reporters' questions after attending the Defense Forum seminar with the people held at the Air Force Hotel in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 27th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

He denied rumors of conflict with former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl. Lee said there is no problem communicating with former Prosecutor General Yoon, stating, "It would be hard to find any remarks where I criticized former Prosecutor General Yoon." He emphasized, "I strictly distinguish between criticizing the candidate and pointing out mistakes of the candidate's campaign."

Meanwhile, Lee also shared his views on allegations of real estate speculation involving the father of People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Hee-sook. He summarized the issues as, "In plain terms, the first question is whether Lawmaker Yoon lost money or invested assets, and the second is whether Lawmaker Yoon provided information."

He added, "Nothing has been confirmed so far," and said, "After the media frenzy subsides, the public will judge based on the actual facts that remain."

Regarding Lawmaker Yoon's resignation, he stated, "It means giving up the unfair privileges that one can enjoy as a member of the National Assembly during an investigation," and expressed his position, saying, "Whether ruling or opposition party, it would be right to follow Lawmaker Yoon's thinking."

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