Yoon Seok-yeol: "It's inappropriate to become a commentator before elections"... Lee Jun-seok: "Speaking out for the organization is democracy"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] On the 27th, Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, effectively issued a verbal warning to Lee Jun-seok, who had repeatedly made critical remarks. Lee responded by opposing, describing democracy as 'suggestions for the organization.'

On the same day, at the People Power Party Central Election Committee meeting held at the National Assembly, Yoon said, "With the election just around the corner, this is an emergency situation and the most important time," adding, "No one should act as a third-party commentator or critic."

Yoon stated, "The party is not a hierarchical organization with strict top-down orders; roles differ, but every party member must follow the party's official decisions and policies," emphasizing, "Otherwise, it is not a party organization."

This remark by Yoon appears to be aimed at Lee, who has continued his criticism through media interviews after resigning from the position of standing election committee chairman. Just the day before, Lee criticized, saying, "Yoon said there are no Yoon core insiders (key associates of Yoon's camp) and that he doesn't even go to work, but if he goes to work, he cannot be a Yoon core insider," and added, "I have doubts whether the current election committee is truly a plan to win the election or a plan for other political purposes."

Following Yoon, Kim Jong-in, the People Power Party's overall election committee chairman, also publicly stated, "Many people who say they want to help the election express their opinions," and urged, "Please judge coldly whether it truly helps the election or not before speaking."

Although the subject is omitted, the remarks by Yoon and Kim appear clearly directed at Lee.

Shortly after these remarks were made public, Lee posted on social media, "I believe that everyone makes suggestions for better results within the organization they belong to as a form of democracy," adding, "If the party leader's suggestions for the party are treated as mere criticism, it may give the impression that the channel of communication is blocked. Criticism is just evaluation, but suggestions contain alternatives."

Through a brief post, Lee warned that taking issue with his remarks could violate democratic principles, while asserting that he is presenting 'alternatives' rather than criticism for criticism's sake. Previously, Lee had called for the complete dismantling of the election committee except for Chairman Kim.

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