Lee Jun-seok: "If Hong Joon-pyo Becomes a Candidate, Kim Jong-in Has No Place... Hong Also Needs to Make Efforts"

"Kim Jong-in, a Person Who Will Act for the Greater Cause of Regime Change"
Leaves Open the Possibility of Running in Jongno: "Whether I Run or Someone Else Does"

On the morning of the 25th, Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at an emergency briefing held at the National Assembly. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, predicted that former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in could take on the role of the party's overall campaign committee chairman for regime change, regardless of who becomes the party's presidential candidate.

In an interview on the afternoon of the 26th with YTN Radio's 'Lee Dong-hyung's News Face-off,' Lee shared about his meeting with former chairman Kim on the 24th. He said, "We shared the party's situation, sought various advice, and exchanged many opinions on recent political issues," adding, "We had concrete discussions on how to coordinate Kim's role in the upcoming presidential election if there is one."

When the host asked, "There are also remarks that if candidate Hong Joon-pyo wins the party primary, Kim Jong-in would have no place," Lee dismissed it as "gossip," saying, "I believe former chairman Kim will act for the greater cause of regime change."

When the host pressed again, asking, "Does that mean he can also join hands with candidate Hong?" Lee replied, "Hong should make efforts too," adding, "Usually, even after fighting, people share a meal once; that's how it goes."

On the possibility of alliances among candidates, Lee saw it as unlikely. He explained, "Alliances usually happen between second and third or second and fourth place candidates, but since there was a four-person cut-off to select four candidates, it's not easy," adding, "Three-way unification is inherently difficult, and if the second and third place candidates unified, the fourth place candidate would fiercely attack it as collusion, so such a scenario is hard to form."

Regarding rumors about his own candidacy in Jongno, Lee left the possibility open. When asked, "There is talk that the Jongno by-election could be held as a running mate concept for the presidential candidate," Lee responded, "It's not about the running mate but about jointly supporting our party," adding, "Whether I run or someone else runs, it's the same."

However, when the host asked, "You said before you wouldn't run; has your position changed?" Lee was reserved, saying, "We need to give strategic ambiguity to the Democratic Party."

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