"Different Solutions and Thoughts, Talking with Everyone"... Will Lee Jun-seok Build a 'Big Tent'?

Lee Jun-seok's Moves Emerging as a Variable in Political Realignment
Attention on New Party Movements Bridging Ruling and Opposition Parties

"I will bring the concerns of an eighty-five-year-old elder to the political agenda with all my strength as someone born in 1985. I will discuss this agenda with everyone who is considering it, even if our specific solutions and thoughts differ."

This is part of a post uploaded on the morning of the 7th on former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok's social media (SNS). It is especially significant as it came after Lee Sang-min, a representative figure of the non-Myeong (非明) faction in the Democratic Party of Korea, opened the possibility of joining the 'Lee Jun-seok new party.'

It is read as a will to gather people with similar concerns, regardless of political orientation or faction, under a 'big tent.'

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Will a 'Third Zone' Big Tent Centered on Lee Jun-seok Emerge?

In his SNS post that day, the former leader said that in a conversation with an elderly person in their 80s, he received topics such as ▲ changes in jobs due to AI ▲ a perfect storm caused by low birth rates ▲ social instability due to elderly poverty, and added, "If no one tries to put these issues at the center of politics, next year the public will again be forced to choose between prosecutor nominations and activist nominations." The 'prosecutor nomination' seems to refer to the current government and ruling party, and the 'activist nomination' to the Democratic Party. This expresses a political will to form a political force that breaks away from the two major parties and sets aside factions and orientations to present such an agenda.

He also said that the two major parties are continuing meaningless competition like a 'zero-sum' game rather than policy competition. He said, "In fact, rather than who is better, it is a structure where the side that gets hurt less while trying to kill each other wins. Meaningless competition," and added, "Even if we talk about policies now, it will only repeat things like Mega Seoul or a one-day reign of short selling."

The 'Lee Jun-seok new party' has not yet taken a concrete form. However, as Lee Sang-min, a non-Myeong faction member, responded that the possibility of joining the 'Lee Jun-seok new party' is open, attention is focused on the possibility of a big tent encompassing both the non-Myeong and non-Yoon (非尹) factions. Although no non-Myeong faction member has clearly expressed intention to join yet, the political circle predicts the possibility of more than two joining. Former National Intelligence Service Director Park Jie-won also predicted on KBC's 'Yeouido Invitation' the day before that "two or three people will go."

There are also rumors that the former leader has already contacted more than five non-Myeong faction members. Political commentator Jang Sung-chul said on MBC's 'Shin Jang-sik's News High Kick,' "(I met) about five or six non-Myeong faction members," adding, "It was a place where the former leader talked about who he wants to work with to create a certain political landscape."

"Naughty Calf," "Hate-Inducing Politics"... Can the Political Gap Be Overcome?

The problem lies in the political orientation differences between the non-Myeong faction members and the former leader. In the past, before general elections, new parties formed by people with different political orientations often split due to political differences. The Bareunmirae Party, which the former leader belonged to, is a representative example. Cho Eung-cheon, a Democratic Party lawmaker and one of the non-Myeong faction representatives, also dismissed the possibility of non-Myeong faction members joining on BBS radio, saying, "No matter how much politics is a living thing, the gap between (the former leader and the non-Myeong faction) is very wide."

Among the non-Myeong faction members, some have different perceptions from the former leader. Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Won-wook recently criticized the former leader's 'racial discrimination' controversy on SNS, saying, "The reason the former leader cannot become a great politician is not because of President Yoon Seok-youl or pro-Yoon forces. It is because of politics that promotes hate and division."

Lee, who is also known to have recently contacted the former leader, had opposed him around March last year over the issue of the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon). At that time, Lee criticized the former leader on SNS by sharing an article criticizing the Jeonjangyeon protest, saying, "They say a naughty calf grows horns on its buttocks; no matter how young you are, what good is that?" and added, "You should first receive character education."

Meanwhile, the 'Third Power' led by Justice Party lawmakers Ryu Ho-jeong and Jang Hye-young is also mentioned as a political force that could ally with the former leader. Ryu recently expressed in a media interview that she could also cooperate with the former leader's side on the premise of 'shared consensus.' However, both Ryu and Jang have previously clashed with the former leader over 'feminism' issues.

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