Ruling Party Embraces Lee Jun-seok Faction... Lee Jun-seok Says "Start with Reflection"

Lee Jun-seok "Reconciliation Happens When Fighting, This Is a Hit-and-Run"
Cheon Ha-ram "The Start of Yeonpotang? Overinterpretation"

Amid the rising 'capital region crisis theory' within the People Power Party, the party leadership met with Cheon Ha-ram, the People Power Party Suncheon-gap district committee chairman and an ally of Lee Jun-seok, raising speculation that they might be trying to embrace the Lee Jun-seok faction, which had been sidelined until now.

However, former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok drew a line, saying "Reflect on yourself first," indicating that unification would be difficult. Chairman Cheon also dismissed the speculation as an "overinterpretation."

On the 1st, Lee said on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' "Reconciliation happens when there has been a fight. This is nonsense. In a situation where it is clear who was right or wrong, self-reflection is necessary," targeting the party leadership. This was interpreted as meaning that reconciliation and unification would be difficult unless the pro-Yoon (친윤, Chin-Yoon) mainstream faction shows a progressive attitude.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kim Ki-hyun, the People Power Party leader, visited the Suncheon Bay International Garden Expo on the 31st of last month, met with Cheon, an ally of Lee Jun-seok, had lunch together, and held an on-site Supreme Council meeting, making efforts to embrace the public sentiment in Honam. In particular, the meeting with Chairman Cheon was the first since the last party convention, leading to speculation that this might be an attempt to embrace members of the Lee Jun-seok faction.

As the 'capital region crisis theory' is being raised mainly by lawmakers Ahn Cheol-soo and Yoon Sang-hyun, there is a growing sentiment that to capture the capital region's public opinion in next year's general election, it is necessary to secure figures with good centrism and expansion potential, such as those from the Lee Jun-seok faction. Leader Kim also emphasized talent acquisition, mentioning "tenacious efforts" (십고초려).

However, former leader Lee downplayed the significance, saying that the meeting between Leader Kim and Chairman Cheon was merely arranged two weeks ago at a funeral. He said, "(The meeting between Leader Kim and Chairman Cheon) was discussed two weeks ago at a funeral," adding, "Two weeks ago, I said I would come to Suncheon after attending the funeral, and Leader Kim had attempted such meetings seven or eight times in the past. Chairman Cheon was also reluctant to meet."

Chairman Cheon also said on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' that "Many people are asking if having breakfast together yesterday morning was the start of Yeonpotang or an embrace, but that is a bit of an overinterpretation," adding, "Since he came all the way to Suncheon, I just suggested having a meal together, and if you refuse, isn't that a problem with one's humanity?" He indicated that the meeting did not hold much significance.

Despite the party leadership signaling an 'embrace of the Lee Jun-seok faction,' members of that faction have shown negative reactions because voices suggesting the expulsion of the Lee Jun-seok faction coexist within the party. Chairman Cheon pointed out, "Some say that having a meal yesterday was a signal of embracing Cheon A-yong, while elsewhere, they fire warning shots threatening that 'if you criticize the party's crisis theory, you cannot board the ship,' sending a fearful warning shot."

He also expressed skepticism about whether the People Power Party would grant nominations to former leader Lee. He said, "It is common sense and a rational direction for the party to utilize the support base and expansion potential that former leader Lee has," but added, "However, since there are so many irrational things, I cannot predict either."

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