Lee Jun-seok "Many People Take Regime Change Lightly... Will Keep Pouring Cold Water"

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the Kwanhun Debate held at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 3rd.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, reiterated regarding next year's presidential election, "I will continue to play the role of strongly pouring cold water."

On the 5th, Lee appeared on KBS's 'Sunday Diagnosis' and said, "Because the desire for regime change is strong, many people mistakenly think it will be easy. Elections should always be analyzed conservatively."

This was a rebuttal to criticism from inside and outside the party following Lee's statement on the 29th on JTBC about the presidential primary, where he said, "I will continue to pour cold water."

In the broadcast, Lee stated he would not retract his remarks and analyzed the presidential election strategy. He said, "We are at a disadvantage regionally and organizationally compared to the ruling party," adding, "Under the current government, many public jobs have been created, and many local government heads are from the Democratic Party. Regional organizational power emerges in nationwide elections, creating a significant gap."

Regarding the party's proposal to appoint former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in, he said, "He is not someone I can serve," and added, "Once the party's presidential candidate is confirmed, if we explicitly ask former chairman Kim for assistance regarding the philosophy of national governance, he will probably make a rational choice."

Jeong Hong-won, Chairman of the People Power Party Election Commission (right), is greeting after finishing his speech at the Fair Primary Pledge Ceremony and Meeting between the Election Commission Chairman and Primary Candidates held at the People Power Party Central Office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 5th. Candidates Hong Joon-pyo, Yoo Seung-min, Ha Tae-kyung, and Ahn Sang-soo did not attend the event, arguing for the exclusion of the 'reverse selection prevention clause.' [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the controversy over the introduction of the 'reverse voting prevention clause,' which has intensified conflicts among candidates in the party primary, he said, "I expect that if the Election Commission makes a decision, all candidates will comply."

Lee explained, "At first glance, it seems like a confrontation between Hong Joon-pyo, Yoo Seung-min, and the others, and then Choi Jae-hyung and Yoon Seok-youl, but that's not actually the case," adding, "Candidate Yoon also intends to follow whatever the Election Commission decides. The Commission holds the key, and I expect a decision will be made either by vote or unanimous agreement."

Regarding the so-called 'accusation solicitation' allegations against former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, he stated, "There is no case filed under our party's name. We will conduct internal verification such as party audits, but not much will come out from our side. The prosecution, which produced the accusation documents, should first conduct internal inspections."

He continued, "(Prosecutor General) Kim Oh-soo should quickly resolve this through inspection. When I saw former Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae, inspections were done in a day or two. It would be right to proceed quickly on this matter."

Lee also explained about his father's violation of the Farmland Act. He said, "I never had the opportunity to be aware of it," and added, "I am financially independent. My father purchased the land in 2004, when I was 18 and studying abroad in the United States."

He continued, "When I was a freshman in college, 18 years old, I had no way to provide investment information to my father nor to invest assets myself," and said, "Although the circumstances are different, I am nonetheless sorry."

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