Lee Jun-seok "You say you'll embrace me? Am I an egg... Very humiliating"

"'Pumneunda' Expression, Most Contemptuous and Offensive"
Harsh Words Directed at Kwon Seong-dong, Acting Party Leader
"If Others Had Been More Self-Restrained, It Wouldn't Have Come This Far"

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok is seen with reddened eyes while speaking to party members on Kim Kwang-seok Street in Jung-gu, Daegu, on the afternoon of the 4th. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Juri] Former People Power Party (PPP) leader Lee Jun-seok expressed displeasure at the political circle's view that the solution to the internal conflict within the PPP is to 'embrace former leader Lee Jun-seok.'

On the 6th, Lee appeared on CBS Radio's 'Hanpan Seungbu' and said, "'Embrace' is the most humiliating and unpleasant expression," adding, "What am I supposed to be embracing? I could understand if they said 'release,' but 'embrace'? Am I an egg? Why embrace me?"

Lee explained, "There could be various other expressions," adding, "There could be expressions like holding hands as partners in state affairs, or acknowledging each other, for example. I am someone who has served as party leader, so the relationship setting of 'embracing' is very humiliating and, above all, it is not the right way to untie what has been tied in the current situation." He continued, "I wish you would just leave me alone."

He also made sharp remarks toward Kwon Seong-dong, the acting party leader and floor leader, who had pointedly told him to "exercise self-restraint" the day before.

Lee said, "Before telling others to exercise self-restraint, he should exercise self-restraint himself," and claimed, "If others except me had exercised self-restraint, it wouldn't have come to this."

Earlier, Floor Leader Kwon told reporters at the National Assembly regarding Lee's press conference, "He should carefully consider how the public and party members think of him and exercise self-restraint," adding, "His attitude of attacking all those who do not support or oppose him as if firing indiscriminately will ultimately boomerang back to him."

Lee retorted, "When former Food and Drug Safety Minister Ryu Young-jin appeared before the National Assembly, Floor Leader Kwon scolded him for using dialect, but he himself uses dialect," adding, "The person who should exercise self-restraint is someone who causes various controversies and suddenly has photos taken of their phone. I earnestly ask him to please exercise self-restraint."

Regarding his future plans, Lee said, "To help the successful retirement of Yoon core supporters, I will meet many people and encourage party membership in Daegu, Chilgok, Waegwan, and Gumi." When asked if he plans to meet former President Park Geun-hye soon, he replied, "Not at all. I do not engage in that kind of politics."

When asked what he wants to say to President Yoon Suk-yeol, he briefly answered, "Become a successful president."

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