Jung Mi-kyung: "If Lee Jun-seok Were Truly Part of the Yoon Government's New Military Faction, He Wouldn't Have Been Allowed to Speak Out Like This"

"There may be unfair parts, but sometimes you have to take political responsibility"

Jeong Mi-kyung, former Supreme Council member of the People Power Party. / Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Ju-hee] Former People Power Party Supreme Council member Jeong Mi-kyung demanded that former leader Lee Jun-seok, who compared President Yoon Seok-yeol to the "new military regime" and attacked him, "seems to not fully understand what he is doing right now" and said, "I hope he stops." Although Jeong was considered part of the pro-Lee Jun-seok faction within the People Power Party leadership, she has voiced criticism as Lee's attacks on President Yoon and the party have intensified.

In an interview with BBS Radio's "Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal" on the 24th, former Supreme Council member Jeong said, "A person who was a leader must not forget that they are the commander," and asked, "Is it really appropriate for someone who was a commander to behave this way toward the members and community that elected him?"

Regarding Lee's petition submitted to the court reviewing the injunction to suspend the emergency committee of the party, in which he likened President Yoon to the "new military regime," Jeong said, "(That expression) is not appropriate," and dismissed it by saying, "If the Yoon Seok-yeol administration were truly a new military regime, they probably wouldn't let Lee Jun-seok speak out like this."

She continued, "Many people who are anxious and wish for the party and the country to do well must be very worried. It's time to stop now," urging repeatedly.

On Lee's claim in the petition that "he was offered a deal by a close aide of the president to resign from the leadership position in exchange for resolving disciplinary actions and police investigations related to allegations of sexual bribery," Jeong said, "We don't even know who made that offer. Lee hasn't spoken about that part," and added, "Politics must be resolved politically. The party must move forward in unity; if it divides, it will self-destruct and perish together."

When asked whether Lee should take responsibility and step down as leader even if he feels wronged, Jeong said, "There are parts where Lee feels wronged and parts where he does not. There are also parts where he must take political responsibility," emphasizing that the chairman of the party's Ethics Committee, who decided on Lee's disciplinary action, was appointed by Lee himself.

Regarding the claim that Lee should be given the opportunity to run in the party convention after his six-month suspension ends, Jeong said, "That is something the members of the National Assembly must decide collectively in a caucus meeting."

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