Lee Jun-seok and Song Young-gil Co-Appear on KBS Debate... Ruling Party Says "Inappropriate as Debaters"

Former Leaders of Both Parties Criticize Yoon and Each Party
Lee: "Kim Gi-hyeon Lacks Presence"
Song: "Democratic Party Can't Fight Properly"

Former leaders Song Young-gil of the Democratic Party and Lee Jun-seok of the People Power Party appeared together on KBS's 'The Live' for a debate. Both were elected as party leaders in 2021 and served their terms concurrently.

Regarding appearing together on the broadcast debate, former leader Lee said, "This is unprecedented," adding, "There has never been a case before us where leaders of the ruling and opposition parties met to discuss various current issues. I can confidently say there will be none after us."

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok (left) and former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil. / Screenshot from KBS 'The Live' broadcast

Former leaders Lee and Song did not hesitate to criticize the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and their respective parties. Song criticized President Yoon, who has yet to meet with Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, saying, "He still has a prosecutor's mindset rather than that of a president," and compared by saying, "Former President Moon Jae-in invited former leader Lee Jun-seok to the Blue House several times."

Former leader Lee pointed out about People Power Party leader Kim Ki-hyun, "They say the party has stabilized, but some say the party is dead," and added, "There is no sign of the party acting independently."

He continued, "The ruling party is in a dual position. On one hand, it must cooperate to make the president and government successful, but it also has the function of the legislature," and criticized, "The legislature also has the role of checks and balances, but it seems to have forgotten this."

Former leader Song criticized the Democratic Party, saying, "From the outside, I wonder why the Democratic Party fights so poorly. They should be fighting against the reckless dictatorship of the prosecution, but they are not doing it properly." Song left the Democratic Party after allegations of money envelopes at the party convention surfaced.

Meanwhile, ahead of the debate, the People Power Party issued a statement saying that inviting former leaders Lee and Song as panelists was inappropriate. The party's Fair Media Committee said, "Former leader Song is currently under prosecution investigation for serious corruption and misconduct related to the party convention money envelope incident," and criticized, "Are they trying to give Song, who mocked the entire nation with his so-called 'voluntary appearance show,' even time to make excuses?"

Regarding former leader Lee, they said, "He has openly expressed strong dissatisfaction and critical opinions toward President Yoon Suk-yeol and the current People Power Party leadership through various political remarks," and pointed out, "At the very least, former leader Lee is inappropriate as a 'ruling party panelist' on a current affairs program that inevitably deals with the current political situation."

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