Lee Jun-seok's Overstepping Words, Calls for 'Self-Restraint' Within Party... "Put Personal Interests Aside for Regime Change"

Repeated Mockery Points to Unification Obstacles
Kwon Young-se Mentions 'Lee Representative' in Criticism

Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, is appealing for support for candidate Yoon Seok-yeol on the morning of the 17th at Sodap Market in Uichang-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] As Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party (pictured), repeatedly made mocking remarks toward Ahn Cheol-soo, presidential candidate of the People’s Party, Kwon Young-se, head of the People Power Party’s election campaign headquarters, directly issued a warning to Lee. While Lee’s blunt speech and behavior receive positive evaluations from the 2030 generation, there are concerns within the party that it could become an obstacle in the current situation where the flame of opposition party unification has not been extinguished.

On the 24th, Kwon said at the party’s campaign headquarters meeting, “It is time for everyone to be cautious so that no more unnecessary and exhausting disputes occur,” adding, “Everyone, including the party leader, must put aside personal interests and prioritize the greater cause of regime change.”

Kim Eun-hye, head of the campaign headquarters’ public relations team, also said on the radio that day, “Regarding the unification issue, the back-and-forth disputes between the two parties could appear worrisome to the people who hope for regime change.”

Earlier, Lee had made a remark in an interview, saying, “Do the drivers of the People’s Party’s campaign vehicles write their wills before entering?” He also posted an article titled “Ahn Cheol-soo ran away scared of unification” on his social media and wrote, “Please leave ㄹㅇㅋㅋ (an online slang mocking unbelievable claims) comments,” provoking the People’s Party.

The party’s floor leadership is also known to have sent a message to Lee asking him to be careful with his remarks. They viewed the recent severity of Lee’s comments as serious, even amid a very cautious atmosphere to avoid the appearance of party division. Previously, Lee had left Seoul after criticizing key figures of People Power Party presidential candidate Yoon Seok-youl, raising concerns that such a situation might recur, but they believe Lee’s remarks must not continue.

A People Power Party lawmaker said, “As the leader of the main opposition party with the heavy responsibility of regime change, every action and even every breath must be cautious, so I don’t know if what he says under the guise of strategy is appropriate.” A first-term lawmaker also said, “There are indeed concerns about Lee’s remarks related to unification being made without communication with the candidate,” adding, “The situation will be determined by how the public perceives it.”

The view that Lee is an obstacle to opposition party unification for regime change is also sensed outside the party. Political commentator Yoo Chang-sun wrote on his Facebook, “My judgment is that if Lee Jun-seok, the spoiler of candidate unification, resigns from his position as leader, the unification of candidates Yoon Seok-youl and Ahn Cheol-soo will be achieved,” adding, “In the 2012 presidential election, Lee Hae-chan resigned from his position as leader of the Democratic United Party for candidate unification.” Former lawmaker Na Kyung-won also appeared on a radio show and said, “He (Lee) should be a bit more polite and sincere, but it’s somewhat disappointing,” adding, “He should exercise some restraint.”

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