Lee Jun-seok: "I conveyed the intention to conclude the agreement with Ahn's side... Unification is the candidate's authority"

"Received intention to withdraw from An's candidacy from a certain figure and met"
"Post-election merger is the party leader's responsibility"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, refuted allegations that he proposed a unification based on a merger to Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, in early February, stating, "It is true that I proposed a merger, but I did not propose unification or nomination rights."

On the 23rd, Lee held an emergency press conference at the National Assembly and said, "I received an inquiry from a certain person on Ahn’s side asking if it would be possible to declare support for withdrawal from the race without merging," adding, "It was understood that Ahn’s side did not have a unified communication system and was unclear, so I met separately to directly convey my intentions to Lee Tae-gyu, the official overall election campaign director of the People’s Party."

He acknowledged proposing a merger during the meeting with the overall campaign director. Lee said, "I have publicly stated several times during the election process that if Ahn withdraws, it is necessary to complete the merger to prevent similar incidents in local elections," and added, "In that context, I told the overall campaign director that if the two parties merge, the previously planned considerations regarding leadership composition would be maintained."

He also admitted the overall campaign director’s remark that he personally advised caution regarding close aides of candidate Yoon. Lee explained, "Our candidate is someone who does not engage in political deals as a principle, so I warned to be careful of those who speculate and convey messages on behalf of the candidate’s intentions."

Furthermore, he revealed plans to prepare an event on the Passion Train if Ahn declared support for withdrawal. He said, "I mentioned that we could prepare for it to take place in Yeosu, the final destination on the second day of the Passion Train event I was planning and executing, so that Ahn could receive maximum political attention and respect."

However, Lee emphasized that he only spoke about matters within his authority. He particularly explained that he proposed a merger as party leader, not unification. Lee stated, "Regarding unification, as the media has reported, it is an issue the candidate must resolve with full authority, but a merger is a party matter, which I have consistently said," and added, "I believe that the repeated political engineering of unification over policy and vision in every election, including local elections, is not desirable for the future of conservative parties."

When asked by reporters whether "a merger ultimately presupposes unification," he responded, "Physically, unification negotiations are impossible," and said, "If a merger is necessary after the election, that is a post-presidential election procedure, so it falls under the party leader’s jurisdiction, and I need to clearly convey my position."

He also refuted claims by the overall campaign director that he proposed exercising nomination rights related to running in the Jongno by-election and the Busan mayoral election. Lee explained, "It was a suggestion asking if Ahn would consider such challenges, not that I would grant nominations," and clarified, "I don’t think the mention of the Busan mayor was accurately conveyed; our party already has Park Hyung-joon, the excellent mayor of Busan."

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