Lee Jun-seok "Whether you like it or not, our candidate is Yoon Seok-yeol... If replaced, there's no need to hold an election"

"How Many People Will Evaluate the Previous Campaign Committee Positively?"

Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party (left), and Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, recently dismissed the possibility of a 'candidate replacement theory' that has been raised in some quarters.

In a pre-recorded interview aired on the 31st on KBS Radio's 'Choi Young-il's Current Affairs Headquarters,' Lee firmly stated that candidate replacement is impossible, saying, "If the candidate is replaced at this point, we will lose the election without even having to fight it," and added, "Whether you like it or not, all party members must play their roles from their respective positions for the election of candidate Yoon Seok-yeol."

He continued, "Whether it is pointing out mistakes in the campaign committee's operation like I do, or promoting individually, or advocating the candidate's strengths, party members can judge for themselves, but our candidate is Yoon Seok-yeol," emphasizing this point.

Regarding his demand for a reorganization of the campaign committee to candidate Yoon, he explained, "The process of reorganizing the campaign committee during elections is very routine and natural," and added, "To create an 'upward momentum' that makes our people support our party's candidate again, some drastic external changes are also necessary."

He also questioned, "How many people would evaluate our party's current campaign committee as doing well?" and criticized, "Yet, on the contrary, there is no one in the campaign committee who is willing to take responsibility or resign."

Lee pointed out, "Clearly, the approval ratings and various indicators are worsening now, so when asked whether the candidate did wrong or the aides did wrong, we must admit that the aides made mistakes. However, the campaign committee has no intention of showing a self-sacrificing attitude."

Kim Jong-in, Chief Election Campaign Committee Chairman of the People Power Party. / Photo by Yonhap News

Lee said, "Chairman Kim Jong-in's sense of the problem might be one step ahead of mine," and added, "I guess Chairman Kim had already proposed (the campaign committee reform) before I even thought about it." He then said, "I will leave the reason why it is not happening now to the listeners' imagination."

Regarding his return to the campaign committee, he stated, "What does it matter whether I join or not? I have no intention of returning to the campaign committee."

He mentioned Shin Ji-ye, former head of the Korean Women's Network, who was recruited as the senior vice chairman of the New Era Preparation Committee directly under candidate Yoon, saying, "It was intended to bring in votes from women in their 20s, but in two weeks, no votes came in, only many left. A cold evaluation is necessary."

He continued, "I don't know who around the candidate recently gave advice, but the foundation to continue the 'generation encirclement theory' or 'generation coalition theory' in a series of recruitments, policies, and statements no longer exists," and said, "Whether emphasizing anti-Moon Jae-in sentiment or a conservative unification theory, which was tried and failed in 2020, they should set a strategy and proceed."

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