"'Nakseok Alliance' Not 'Nakjun Alliance'... Political Circles Skeptical of Lee Nak-yeon and Lee Jun-seok Combination"

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, who stated his position that he would make a decision about the new party "without delay," has left open the possibility of meeting with former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok, who is reportedly pushing for a new party, drawing attention to whether the "Nak-Jun Alliance" will be realized ahead of the general election. However, there are also skeptical views in the political circles, saying it is a "Nak-Seok Alliance," not a Nak-Jun Alliance.

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Min-seok said on the 11th on CBS's "Kim Hyun-jung's News Show," "They call it the Nak-Jun Alliance (Lee Nak-yeon?Lee Jun-seok alliance), but I would call it the Nak-Seok Alliance. From my perspective, it looks like a Nak-Seok Alliance."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Former leader Lee Nak-yeon met with reporters at the National Assembly the previous day and, when asked about a meeting with former leader Lee Jun-seok, said, "We will meet when the time comes." Former leader Lee Jun-seok has also left open the possibility of a meeting with Lee Nak-yeon. Since both former leaders have expressed their intention to establish a new party, the possibility of an alliance is emerging ahead of next year's general election.

However, lawmaker Kim said, "It is difficult to see the temporary alliances and mergers that usually occur during general election periods as a stable alternative for the development of Korean politics, especially since former leader Lee Jun-seok cannot be seen as having conducted excellent politics of national integration. Such politically aimless pursuits without clear direction and methods have never succeeded."

Jang Kyung-tae, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, also said on SBS's "Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show," "On the contrary, I feel that the media is excessively encouraging talk about the new party," adding, "I consider it a Nak-Seok Alliance. To put it differently, it becomes Nak-Seok-ism. What happens with Nak-Seok-ism? Warning, we need to be cautious," he criticized.

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Former lawmaker Shin Ji-ho also expressed concern on Channel A's "Political Signal," saying, "Former leader Lee Nak-yeon should truly bring out the Democratic Party line. Meeting with former leader Lee Jun-seok while forming a third-party new party could mistakenly become a Nak-Seok Alliance," adding, "Therefore, we need to follow the true Democratic Party line. If it becomes a mixed new party or a third-party, it will turn into a Nak-Seok Alliance."

While not entirely skeptical of the alliance between the two, there are also points raised that relying solely on anti-Myeong (anti-Lee Myung-bak faction) and anti-Yoon (anti-President Yoon Suk-yeol faction) sentiments has its limits. Former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, who is pushing for a third-party new party, said on SBS Radio, "Both former leader Lee Jun-seok and the non-Myeong faction of the Democratic Party, including former leader Lee Nak-yeon, talk a lot, but it's the same thing. I think we can no longer rely on just being anti-Myeong and anti-Yoon," adding, "It's not about individuals; we need to change the system itself, the entire regime."

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