Lee Nak-yeon "Meeting Lee Jae-myung Strengthened My Determination to Found a Party"

"Even Kim Bu-gyeom and Chung Sye-kyun Said It Was Useless"

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, who has officially announced the formation of a new party, revealed that his meeting with leader Lee Jae-myung was the background that solidified his decision to establish the new party.

In an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 2nd, former leader Lee said, "I thought there might be some response or a revised proposal in some form, but there was none at all." He had previously demanded that Lee Jae-myung either resign from his leadership position or convert to an emergency integration committee.

Former leader Lee stated, "Earlier, when former Prime Ministers Kim Boo-kyum and Chung Sye-kyun each met with Lee Jae-myung, they made much more concrete proposals than what I said during my 40-minute meeting," adding, "But it was all to no avail."

Former leader of the Democratic Party Lee Nak-yeon is greeting supporters with New Year's wishes on the morning of the 1st at Haengju Fortress in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the timing of the new party's formation, former leader Lee said, "I cannot confirm the exact date," and added, "There must first be a procedure where I announce, 'Due to these reasons, I have no choice but to leave the party. I ask for the forgiveness of party members.'" He dismissed the speculation that a declaration of the new party would be made around the 4th by saying, "As of now, no venue has been reserved for anything planned on the 4th."

However, former leader Lee reiterated his determination to form the new party, saying, "Quite a few people are in agreement with the new party," and "There are also many who have spoken about the necessity of a new party much earlier than I have, pressuring and urging me. I have judged that this is fate and should not be ignored."

Regarding whether incumbent lawmakers will join, he responded, "Incumbent lawmakers are merely candidates who are judged," and said, "Talking about incumbent lawmakers this or that is a Yeouido-style calculation." Furthermore, on the possibility of former Prime Ministers Kim Boo-kyum and Chung Sye-kyun joining the new party, he said, "I do not want to make unreasonable demands, and they are people who love the country and the party in their own way," and refrained from speaking further.

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