Lee Jun-seok: "Lee Jae-myung probably thought, 'If Moon had helped, I would be president'"

"Moon Jae-in and Lee Jae-myung, a Love-Hate Relationship"
"Lee Jae-myung Supporters Believe They Lost the Presidential Election Because of Moon"

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok said about former President Moon Jae-in visiting Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who was hospitalized and urging him to stop his hunger strike, "When Lee Jae-myung heard that former President Moon was coming, he must have felt mixed emotions," adding, "One of the reasons he is going through hardships is because the pro-Moon faction and his side did not achieve perfect harmony, which he believes led to his 0.7% loss in the presidential election."

Lee appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 20th and said, "At this point, former President Moon made a dignified request for him to stop the hunger strike, so there must have been some gratitude as well." He analyzed that Lee Jae-myung likely felt ambivalent emotions about former President Moon's hospital visit.

He then compared the relationship between former President Moon and Lee Jae-myung to that between former President Kim Young-sam and former Grand National Party leader Lee Hoi-chang. Lee said, "In Lee Hoi-chang's autobiography, he wrote that he had a love-hate relationship with YS (Kim Young-sam)," explaining, "What that means is, first, he thinks that if YS had supported him, he would have become president, and second, since they are somewhat from the same camp, there is a certain affectionate feeling."

Lee added, "Lee Jae-myung probably had similar thoughts while lying down."

Former President Moon Jae-in is visiting Green Hospital in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 19th to meet Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, who is currently hospitalized. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The day before, when former President Moon visited the Green Hospital where Lee Jae-myung was admitted, some hardline supporters held signs saying 'Expel Moon Jae-in' and protested.

Regarding this, Lee said, "The photos captured looked like an elder giving advice to a junior, but from Lee Jae-myung's perspective, as the biggest figure and de facto leader of the opposition, receiving care or advice from former President Moon could be seen as somewhat undermining his leadership," adding, "From Lee Jae-myung's point of view, it must have been burdensome that former President Moon appeared as a senior figure conducting high-level politics, and this sentiment is probably shared by Lee Jae-myung's passionate supporters."

He continued, "I don't think former President Moon ordered the Daejang-dong investigation. That is something the prosecution should naturally do," and analyzed, "Former President Moon has no direct responsibility, but there may be supporters of Lee Jae-myung who say, 'We lost the presidential election because of you.' That might be why such reactions emerged."

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