Is Lee Jun-seok Smiling Amid the 'Naebujongjil' Scandal? Has He Gained a Political Opportunity?

Yoon-Kwon Conversation Exposed, Lee Criticizes "You Are Internal Traitors"
Leading in Next Party Leader Poll but Uncertain About Party Return

Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, is moving to board a ship at Sadong Port Passenger Terminal in Ulleung-gun, Gyeongbuk, on the 27th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Yoon Yoon-jin] After President Yoon Suk-yeol's message on the 26th referring to Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party, as a "party leader who only did internal backstabbing" was revealed, Lee responded by saying, "You are the internal backstabbers," drawing attention to his future actions. A subtle shift in the power dynamics is also detected, as public opinion seems to be leaning favorably toward Lee.

After being suspended from party membership for six months, Lee, who had remained silent, began to express his feelings from the day the Telegram conversation between President Yoon and Kwon Seong-dong, acting party leader and floor leader of the People Power Party, was leaked. On the 27th, he posted on his Facebook a message mentioning 'Yangduguyuk (羊頭狗肉),' meaning "a sheep's head but dog's meat," implying criticism of President Yoon and Acting Leader Kwon.

He also did not hesitate to make critical remarks targeting 'Yunhaekgwan' (Yoon Suk-yeol's core associates). When People Power Party lawmaker Lee Cheol-gyu criticized him on social media on the 28th, Lee Jun-seok responded through the media, saying, "The public will come to know one person who has poorly assisted the president until it reached this state." That afternoon, Lee shared on his Facebook the dismissal of the invalidation lawsuit for the 21st National Assembly general election, pointing out, "You are the internal backstabbers who ran for the downfall of conservatism," and scolded, "Discussing national affairs in a small world centered around YouTube led to repeated defeats." This was interpreted as Lee responding to accusations of internal backstabbing while indirectly criticizing the fact that his disciplinary action was pushed forward due to suspicions raised on YouTube.

As Lee repeatedly criticized pro-Yoon figures, making the conflict more visible, concerns have arisen inside and outside the People Power Party that internal turmoil will worsen. On the 28th, lawmaker Cho Hae-jin evaluated on his Facebook that "Lee Jun-seok should exercise self-restraint. It does not help the party, the government, or himself," suggesting that Lee is escalating the controversy. On the 29th, lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo appeared on BBS Radio's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal' and criticized, "Exchanging volleys online without meeting in person is undesirable. This is not politics."

Some speculate that the controversy triggered by the leaked Telegram conversation may work positively for Lee. On the 28th, lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said, "Politically, Lee is not necessarily at a disadvantage," adding, "If there is any problem with the police investigation, it would be easy to argue that there was pressure from the president and Yunhaekgwan."

Public opinion also appears to be flowing favorably toward Lee. In a suitability survey for the next People Power Party leadership candidates conducted by Nextweek Research on behalf of KBC Gwangju Broadcasting and UPI News from the 26th to 27th, Lee ranked first with 26%, significantly ahead of second-place lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo at 17.1%, outside the margin of error. On the other hand, according to a Korean Gallup survey conducted from the 26th to 28th, President Yoon's job approval rating fell below the 30% range to 28%, and the party support for the People Power Party decreased by 3 percentage points from the previous week to 36%, continuing a downward trend. (For detailed information on the polls, refer to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission website.)

As a result, political attention is focused on Lee's future political moves. On the 28th, lawmaker Ha said on CBS Radio, "The younger generation within the party is expanding while the traditional support base is shrinking, so (Lee himself) will think he can win by building hegemony within the party," explaining that Lee will return to the party and hold power in the long term. Political commentator Lee Jong-hoon suggested that Lee might return as a leading figure of the 'anti-Yoon' faction after rallying public opinion.

On the other hand, there is also analysis that even after the six-month disciplinary period ends, it will be difficult for Lee to be active within the party. On the 29th, lawmaker Ahn said on BBS Radio, "This is an unprecedented case where the leader of the ruling party, which has been in power for a short time, has been disciplined," and predicted that even if the police investigation related to the disciplinary matter concludes with no charges, a return would be difficult. On the same day, former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won appeared on YTN Radio's 'News King Park Ji-hoon' and interpreted, "The messages between President Yoon and Acting Leader Kwon mean 'Lee Jun-seok can never be the leader again. Don't come back even after the disciplinary period ends,'" speculating that a clash with Lee, who intends to return to the party, is inevitable.

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