Lee Nak-yeon Accelerates New Party Formation... Is the 'Nak-Jun Alliance' Becoming a Reality?

Lee Jun-seok "Possibility of Alliance with Lee Nak-yeon, We Should Keep It Open"
Pro-Lee Nak-yeon and Non-Myung Factions Say "Why Rush Like This" and Keep Distance

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon has announced plans to declare the founding of a new party early next year and is considering an alliance with a third-space new party, drawing attention to the possibility of a 'Nak-Jun (Lee Nak-yeon·Lee Jun-seok) alliance' becoming a reality.

The possibility of a Nak-Jun alliance was raised earlier when former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok stated that he could either form a new party with Lee Nak-yeon or form a coalition. Lee Jun-seok, who is preparing to establish a new party, has expressed willingness to join forces with various political groups if they share similar goals.

Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon is giving a special lecture on the theme of "Youth, Political Leaders, and the Future of Modern Society" on the afternoon of the 6th at Samyook University in Nowon-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Recently, Lee Jun-seok also emphasized the likelihood of pursuing a new party by saying, "I see no possibility of remaining in the People Power Party."

In a KBS radio interview on the 13th, Lee Jun-seok said, "Probably on the 27th, I will leave the party, and from the very next day, I will start preparing to establish a new party," adding, "We will form a Preparatory Committee for Party Establishment (창준위), which will recruit members, then establish provincial parties, followed by the central party."

Regarding the possibility of an alliance with Lee Nak-yeon, Lee Jun-seok mentioned, "We need to keep an open mind." On the 15th, during SBS radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' he said, "Politics involves discussions among relatively close people, and I still feel some distance there," but he reiterated his stance, saying, "There is no need to close the door on the possibility of an alliance; we should keep it open and see."

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok is giving a speech at the talk concert "Our Concerns for a Better Future" held on the 26th at EXCO in Buk-gu, Daegu. Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, Lee Nak-yeon is also reportedly accelerating the process of founding a new party. However, voices expressing willingness to join Lee Nak-yeon's new party remain limited. Even pro-Lee Nak-yeon (친낙) and anti-Lee Jae-myung (비명) factions within the Democratic Party have drawn a line against joining the new party, citing the minimal support base and limited influence of the new party.

On the 14th, Lee Won-wook, a member of the anti-Lee Jae-myung faction, said on SBS radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' "It feels like suddenly jumping into the ring and sprinting 100 meters without a breather," adding, "It's quite surprising." Assemblyman Cho Eung-cheon also remarked on CBS radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that there are not many people stepping forward to join 'Lee Nak-yeon's new party,' pointing out, "Among the Honam district lawmakers and former NY faction members, there are few who speak positively."

Lee Gae-ho, the policy committee chairman and a Lee Nak-yeon faction member, also warned against the founding of 'Lee Nak-yeon's new party' through a Facebook post that day, stating, "Only a united Democratic Party can win." He added, "As the current chairman of the Democratic Party's Policy Committee, I am doing my best every day to develop election pledges and policies for victory in the general election," and "Even during the strong wave of the People's Party in Honam in 2016, I stood alone to protect the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party means everything to me."

On the 15th, Yoon Young-chan said on MBC radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' "(To the former leader) I told him that the pace seems too fast and that he could wait and observe the party's situation more carefully. Why is he rushing like this?" He added, "But it seems that former leader Lee Nak-yeon has already abandoned expectations for the Democratic Party and is discussing with those who strongly believe that they must establish a new party."

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