Lee Jun-seok "Will Return to Campaign Committee if Requested by Candidate"... Yoon Seok-yeol Avoids Direct Answer

Lee Jun-seok, in media interview, "I won't act against Yoon"
Yoon Seok-yeol, "He knows the role of party leader better than anyone"

Candidate Yoon Seok-yeol having a tea meeting with young people. [Source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Lee Jun-seok, who stepped down from all positions in the People Power Party's election campaign committee, stated that he could return "if requested by Yoon Seok-yeol's campaign team." This effectively hinted at the possibility of his return. However, Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, avoided a direct answer, saying, "I think he will do well as party leader."

In an interview with Financial News on the 28th, Lee said, "The standing election committee chairman is in charge of planning and directing the election, but since that is not possible, my original thoughts remain unchanged." However, he added, "If there is a specific request from the candidate's side, I would naturally consider returning to the election committee."

Regarding rumors of conflict with Yoon Seok-yeol, Lee explained, "It is more about differences in the operation method of the election committee than with the candidate himself," and added, "It is because my role in the election committee is limited, not because I would act against the candidate."

Meanwhile, after attending a luncheon hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Yoon avoided a direct answer when asked by reporters about Lee's possible return to the election committee.

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is having a discussion with James Kim, the chairman of AMCHAM, at the AMCHAM meeting held on the afternoon of the 28th at the Conrad Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

When reporters asked, "Will you request Lee to return to the election committee?" Yoon replied, "As I mentioned earlier, he (Lee) knows better than anyone what his role as party leader entails," and added, "I think he will do well." When a follow-up question was raised, "Are you not making a separate request?" Yoon responded, "That is my answer."

Earlier, on the 21st, Lee announced that he would step down from all positions related to the party's election committee. At a press conference held at the party leader's office in the National Assembly, he said, "I will step down from all positions within the election committee," adding, "The preparations made by the Public Relations Media Headquarters for the election can be either succeeded or completely discarded. I have no regrets."

He continued, "If members of the election committee say they do not need to follow the standing election committee chairman's instructions, that denies the necessity of the election committee's existence," and added, "Moreover, when I confirmed that links to YouTube broadcasts mocking the party leader were sent to journalists covering this, I became certain."

He also criticized the so-called 'Yunhaekgwan (Yoon Seok-yeol's core associates).' He lamented, "Seeing Yunhaekgwan who suddenly emerge to throw a comment with a false equivalence made me sadly think that such scenes might repeat throughout the election period."

Representative Lee Jun-seok held a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 21st, announcing, "I will step down from all positions within the campaign committee." Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, Lee emphasized that organizational structural changes must accompany his effective return to the election committee.

In a BBS radio interview on the 28th, he said, "The current election committee structure makes it difficult for the standing election committee chairman or anyone in such a role to plan and direct. That is why I said I would come out. Since the structural problems do not seem to have changed yet, rather than participating and playing a role in the election committee, I intend to fulfill my role as party leader."

He added, "When I say the election committee needs to be reorganized, it is because we want to win the election, not lose it," and continued, "If the election committee accelerates changes toward winning, I would evaluate that positively. But there is a certain limit that must be surpassed, and we are still some distance from that point. At least for now." This is interpreted as a call to further accelerate the reorganization of the election committee.

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