"Lee Jun-seok Meets 'The Person Always Consulted Before Important Actions' Kim Jong-in"

Lee Jun-seok "December is the deadline... There is a set date"
Jo Won-jin "Lee Jun-seok to leave the party in mid-December" forecast
Pro-Lee Jun-seok faction "No discussions with Lee on new party"

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok's advisory request to former Chairman Kim Jong-in on the 1st has fueled speculation about the formation of a new conservative party. Lee described Kim as "someone I always seek advice from and consult before taking important actions," leading to predictions that the 'important action' refers to the establishment of a new party.

After a roughly 30-minute discussion with Kim that afternoon, Lee said on the same day’s CPBC radio program 'Kim Hye-young's News Sympathy,' "He has been with me since I started my political career in 2012, so I always ask him a lot and learn from him," adding, "I honestly told him what I am doing and that I plan to do something in November."

Although he did not respond directly about the 'important action' he mentioned, some within the ruling party speculated that Lee met Kim with the formation of a new party in mind. Kim had previously advised Lee to "cut ties with the People Power Party and pursue his own politics. Find a way to enter the National Assembly by any means" (CBS Radio, October 25).

Former Lee Jun-seok, People Power Party leader. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Lee himself has left open the possibility of forming a new party. In an interview with Edaily on October 31, he said, "I have not yet started any concrete moves to establish a new party, but it could change depending on President Yoon’s governance and the ruling party’s behavior," adding, "If I form a new party, it will certainly be a governing party, not just a proportional representation specialist party."

He also provided a timeline. Lee has stated in various media interviews that his deadline is 100 days before the general election (January 1, 2024). On the CPBC radio show that day, he said, "I will make a decision in December. December is the deadline to reorganize the party’s ranks and create a new culture to prepare for the general election," adding, "I have a date set in my mind, but if I say it, it might give too much away, so I won’t say it. It is a meaningful date."

Jo Won-jin, leader of Our Republican Party, predicted that Lee’s departure from the party is "almost certain." On CBS Radio’s 'Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show,' Jo said, "If Lee doesn’t enter the National Assembly, he will become a political wanderer," explaining, "There is no place where he can win if he goes through a primary. The party members have all turned away."

He also believed that Kim advised Lee to act quickly in November. Jo said, "For him to become a member of the National Assembly, he will eventually have to go his own way. That could mean participating in a new party and running through proportional representation, or not joining the new party and using a diversion tactic where the new party is led by Yoo Seung-min and the independent coalition by Lee Jun-seok. This is a possible scenario."

However, the pro-Lee Jun-seok faction stated that they have not discussed a new party with Lee. On BBS Radio, People Power Party lawmaker Heo Eun-ah said, "Whether a new party is formed should be asked not to Lee or former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, but to the Yongsan Presidential Office or the party leadership."

Heo added, "Lee’s biggest wish is for the party to change," saying, "He is speaking out with harsh criticism only with the thought of preventing conservative supporters from turning away, keeping the centrist supporters who have barely come to us from leaving, and making South Korea better."

Gyeonggi Province lawmaker Lee Ki-in also drew a line, saying, "He has never talked to us about a new party first."

On KBS Radio that day, Lee Ki-in said, "Lee Jun-seok has always sought advice from Kim Jong-in, whether when he was party leader or when he led the presidential and local elections to victory, so yesterday’s meeting is nothing special," adding, "It seems they discussed how to break through and how to strategize with Kim Jong-in."

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