Ithanhee: "Absolute Majority Opposes Returning to Parallel System at Party Meeting... Lee Jaemyung Must Make a Decision"

Democratic Party Rep. Itanhee MBC Radio Interview
"We Must Clear Doubts About the Democratic Party"

Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Tan-hee urged the maintenance of the mixed-member proportional representation system and the prohibition of satellite parties, calling for a decisive decision from Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung.

On the 27th, Lee appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' and said, "It is time for the party leader and the leadership to make a decision," adding, "We need to establish the framework of the election law first and then engage in the battle. If we fail to even create the framework for coalition politics, there will be significant confusion in election strategies later."

Lee Tan-hee, member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

He stated, "The key issue in the next general election is whether we can hold the Yoon Seok-yeol administration accountable and whether we can dispel doubts about the Democratic Party," adding, "I believe the public's determination to judge the reckless actions of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration is firm. This was already confirmed through the by-election for the Gangseo District Office chief."

However, he said, "What did the Democratic Party do with a sole 180 seats? What happens if the Democratic Party again holds 180 seats alone? We need to eliminate those doubts," adding, "To do so, we must declare that we are a reform party that inherits the spirit of Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, that we are a party that keeps promises to the people, that creating satellite parties to secure 180 seats alone was our deviation, and that we have changed and are returning to our former traditions."

Lee also revealed that an absolute majority opposed a return to the parallel voting system at last week's party meeting. He said, "The vast majority of the lawmakers who spoke clearly stated that collusion with the People Power Party is unacceptable," adding, "Only one or two expressed a pragmatic view and suggested delegating the matter to the Political Reform Special Committee."

Lee said, "I think it is not good for the silence to continue any longer. First, it is not good for the party, and second, it is not good for the party leader personally," adding, "From a personal perspective, the party leader continues to face baseless speculation and attacks. Just the day before yesterday, some media linked the leader's personal election strategy to these attacks. In such times, I believe it is necessary for the leader to make a decision."

He continued, "To win the general election, a party with clear leadership wins," adding, "Only when the leader stands firmly can the election be won. From now on, I believe it is the leader's time."

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