Lee Jun-seok "Jung Jin-seok, Behavior Close to a Scandal That Should Not Be Allowed as Ruling Party Deputy Speaker"

Achievements from Ukraine Visit... "Witnessed Russian Military Aggression, Inhumane Acts"
Pro-Yoon Group 'Mindeulle' Formation Movement... "Not the Time to Form Separate Private Organization"

On the 9th, Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, who returned home after visiting Ukraine, is answering reporters' questions at Incheon Airport arrival hall. 2022.6.9 Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, who returned to Korea on the 9th after visiting Ukraine, criticized Jeong Jin-seok, the National Assembly Deputy Speaker, with whom he had a heated exchange over his visit to Ukraine and the direction of the party's Innovation Committee operations.

On the afternoon of the same day, upon returning through Incheon International Airport after his visit to Ukraine, Lee told reporters, "The content that Deputy Speaker Jeong initially pointed out is false in itself."

He continued, "Since the schedule could not have been arranged without consultation with the government or the Presidential Office, the fact that the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly made statements that seem like something from YouTube means, first, there was malice, or second, he was very uninformed about the government situation?one of the two."

Regarding Deputy Speaker Jeong's suggestion of holding a workshop to gather opinions for the Innovation Committee, Lee said, "I had argued that from two weeks before the election ended, after the election, we should go through a process of gathering opinions within the party through a workshop to strengthen unity," adding, "Floor leader Kwon Seong-dong asked the floor leadership to entrust the matter, so I entrusted it and went to Ukraine."

He added, "If he were a senior within the party, he would understand and be able to explain the context, but this seems to have been strongly intended to cause discord," emphasizing, "I hope he refrains from playing politics now. I hope the media does not dismiss this as a power struggle within the party. Deputy Speaker Jeong is not a candidate for party leadership."

Lee also directly criticized Deputy Speaker Jeong, a senior lawmaker. He said, "It is almost disgraceful for the Deputy Speaker of the ruling party to politically attack former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, who is known for fairness and integrity, by labeling him as part of the Lee Jun-seok faction."

Regarding the achievements of his visit to Ukraine, Lee said, "Through a series of meetings with high-ranking Ukrainian officials, it was confirmed that there is a strong expectation for Korea to actively participate in accordance with its international status."

He continued, "Visiting cities that suffered from the war, I witnessed firsthand how much the Russian military's invasion inflicted great wounds on Ukraine and saw inhumane acts. Of course, this is from Ukraine's perspective, but it led me to hold a stance that condemns the invasion."

He added, "It seems they expect humanitarian aid, post-war reconstruction projects, and military support, but military support was not within the scope of discussions by our delegation, so I conveyed that we would properly relay their requests to the government and the President."

Regarding the so-called ‘Mindeulle’ group, mainly composed of the pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol) faction within the party, Lee expressed a critical stance, saying, "Since the official party-government-Presidential Office consultative body is already operating, there is no situation to form a separate private organization."

The pro-Yoon group is planning to launch the lawmakers' group ‘Mindeulle’ (an abbreviation of "Do you want to hear public opinion?" and meaning to grasp public sentiment widely like dandelion seeds spreading everywhere) and is encouraging membership.

Lee said, "If they decided to form a private organization, they should just strengthen camaraderie according to that purpose," pointing out, "Boasting by mentioning names like the Prime Minister and ministers is fundamentally an unfair pressure on the government and a group that the public has no reason to view favorably."

He added, "I also ask journalists not to even attach the name ‘pro-Yoon group’ to that organization," stating, "Such remarks cause significant wounds to our supporters and the public who lost the administration through controversies like ‘pro-Park’ and ‘true pro-Park’."

Lee concluded, "President Yoon Seok-yeol's philosophy is very clear and precise. Emphasizing freedom, creativity, and responsible politics, I believe everyone should act in their respective fields accordingly, and there is no need to form groups."

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