[Interview] Meeting Lee Jun-seok on the Passion Train... Plans After the March 9 Presidential Election

Disappointed as initial plan to support logistics fell through
Must win big in local elections for stable governance after presidential victory
Public office candidate basic qualification exam will sway local election landscape
Next presidential run? No intention to step up before confidence in public opinion
"Party should not be swayed by YouTubers aiming to make money"

Lee Jun-seok, Leader of the People Power Party, Passion Train. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Miryang=Asia Economy reporters Naju Seok and Kwon Hyunji] The voice of Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, whom I met on the train, was hoarse. "My voice will sound different than usual," he said, asking for understanding, and his face showed clear signs of fatigue. I met him on the train from Gyeongsan to Miryang on the last day of the Passion Train, which he had enthusiastically planned, on the 28th of last month. In the interview, Lee spoke relatively candidly about his reflections during the election campaign, his plans after the presidential election, and his thoughts about his future. In particular, he emphasized that the People Power Party, and Korean political parties more broadly, must change so that they are not swayed by external minorities but can lead discourse on their own. He also expressed regret about having to be involved in the entire election campaign, contrary to his original plan to focus solely on publicity and logistics.

Due to space constraints, the interview introduced on the 2nd included Lee’s reflections on unification with Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, and his thoughts on Yoon Seok-youl, the People Power Party’s presidential candidate. The following is the remainder of the interview content that was not included at that time.

Lee Jun-seok, Leader of the People Power Party, Passion Train. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

- You mentioned a hammer and an anvil on social media (SNS).

▲ The hammer and anvil are recurring themes in military history. Starting with Alexander the Great, in ancient battles, infantry would block the enemy’s advance while cavalry would flank and launch the main attack. We believe our traditional support base plays the role of the infantry. In addition, the political participation of the 2030 generation and changes in Honam will serve as a painful cavalry-like attack against the Democratic Party.

- What about changes in Honam?

▲ The Democratic Party says it will be difficult to exceed 15%, but ARS-based polls show over 20%. If even one area among Gwangju or Jeonnam/Jeonbuk exceeds 25%, a major change will occur starting from the local elections.

- Was unification not the People Power Party’s presidential election strategy?

▲ Looking back, our party was mostly steady, but conservative YouTubers and some editorial writers kept creating that atmosphere. If they understood what negotiation really is, they should have stopped making normative or commentator-like remarks. There has never been an election with so much external meddling, probably because of the high public interest.

- You said you would handle logistics in this election. Do you think it went well?

▲ If former People Power Party general election committee chairman Kim Jong-in had worked centrally as chairman, I would have been much more comfortable. From the so-called silk purse election preparations, since there was no well-known figure in the party, I ended up campaigning directly on the ground near the end, which wore me out. This needs serious reflection. Even while I was doing this, some people were joking about attacking the party leader. The election committee was reorganized into the campaign headquarters, and during that process, there were about a month’s worth of internal conflicts and unfinished preparations. Some ideas that never saw the light of day were lost due to absurd situations. Without that, more interesting ideas would have emerged.

- If you had traveled with the candidate during the Passion Train planning, it might have been more of a sensation. You seemed to feel regret.

▲ Honestly, if you think coldly about the presidential election, the decision-making structure only needs 5-6 people to be fully alert. The rest just become the execution team. But conservative parties still don’t grasp this in elections.

Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, who arrived at Miryang Station on the Passion Train, is giving a speech in the station square. / Miryang = Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

- Like Lee’s Daegu speech mentioning coexistence with those who think differently, referencing former President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment, there has been no moving speech in this presidential election so far (as of the 28th of last month).

▲ The party convention was possible because it was held quietly at a convention center. For a moving speech in the presidential election, it is very sensitive who you put in front of the candidate. It is true that things are currently happening in a disorganized way. Considering the spread of YouTube and other platforms, to move people emotionally, words and writing must touch hearts, but many of our politicians are not adapted to this.

- What are your future political plans?

▲ When you become party leader, you are classified as a presidential candidate and tend to organize your own faction, form nomination committees, and often cause problems. I don’t believe in organizational elections from the start. So I plan to spend the remaining year focusing on slimming down and streamlining the party. I expect results in that area. We need to transform the party into a form where young generations can continuously and sustainably take root. If successful, I will leave my name in Korean political history. At this stage, trying to plant people aiming for the next presidential election will only leave me as another failed party leader.

- Has the party organization slimmed down during your tenure?

▲ Not yet. We are trying to reduce many organizational and functional tasks and strengthen practical personnel like programmers and designers. Our secretariat members have not been able to be dispatched to the government due to four consecutive defeats. When those who have worked hard get opportunities in government, we will replenish the remaining personnel with professional and technical staff.

- It sounds like you are pushing for full-scale party reform. What is the direction?

▲ In reform, more than anything else, the organization must be able to generate discourse. Since former leader Hwang Kyo-ahn’s time, YouTubers have been proposing discourse and the party has been dragged along. We must sever ties with this forever. The party must exist as the most trusted institution of the camp, and must not be swayed by discourse created by YouTubers for profit.

- Even if you win the presidential election, a parliament without a majority will be a hindrance.

▲ That’s why we must achieve an overwhelming victory in local elections. Supporting the Yoon administration through local governance is the first step. Secondly, with only two years left for the National Assembly, the Democratic Party will find it difficult to oppose recklessly. If the public perceives that the president tried to do the right thing but was blocked by the Democratic Party’s seats in the first half of the term, the Democratic Party will be overwhelmingly defeated. If Yoon becomes president, I only expect him to present the right agenda; lack of seats will not cause failure.

- What is your secret strategy for local elections?

▲ I have almost finished recording lectures for the basic qualification exam for public office candidates, and I believe this will change the local election landscape. (- Won’t the impact be reduced since it changed from an exam to a lecture format?) I have thoughts on that. I won’t reveal it to the media in advance.

Lee Jun-seok, Leader of the People Power Party, Passion Train. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

- If you win this presidential election, talk about the next-next election will come up.

▲ When talking with the media, I have mentioned foreign affairs (外治). I believe that no matter who becomes president, it is difficult to achieve remarkable results in domestic affairs. It is hard to take radical actions beyond managing well and making rational choices. However, in foreign affairs, our country still needs an excellent leader. I need to study foreign affairs. I’m not planning to lock myself away in graduate school or a research institute, but I need to contemplate foreign affairs. Until I gain confidence, I have no intention of challenging for office.

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