Lee Won-wook: "Lee Nak-yeon Should Run in Gwangju... Lee Jun-seok, Stop the Division"

"I Nak-yeon, I hope he runs in Gwangju and completely changes public sentiment"
Lee Jun-seok also joins... "If he runs in Gyeyang, it would have great symbolism"
"Lee Jun-seok, let's overcome hate politics instead of division"

After leaving the Democratic Party, Rep. Lee Won-wook, who is pushing for the establishment of the 'Future Grand Alliance,' presented a role theory for the third zone new party forces. While proposing former leader Lee Nak-yeon to run in Gwangju, he also urged caution to Lee Jun-seok, chairman of the Reform New Party's Policy Committee, regarding 'divide and rule.' Attention is focused on whether the third zone forces, which oscillate between alliance and checks over the 'big tent integration,' can unite their intentions before the Lunar New Year.

On the 19th, Rep. Lee suggested on TV Chosun's YouTube channel to former leader Lee Nak-yeon, who is preparing to launch the 'New Future' party, "If there is a demand from the party, and if it is necessary to save the party, I ask you to run in places like Gwangju and play a significant role in completely changing the public sentiment there."

Lee Won-wook, Co-Chairman of the Joint Preparatory Committee for the Future Grand Alliance.
[Photo by TV Chosun YouTube capture]

Before leaving the Democratic Party, former leader Lee Nak-yeon had been focusing on behind-the-scenes work for the new party's establishment and had repeatedly stated his intention not to run in the April 10 general election. However, Rep. Lee Won-wook countered, "Former leader Lee should truly run in Gwangju and show a self-sacrificing spirit," adding, "Honestly, just going behind the scenes to serve as the election campaign committee chair and moving around doesn't really make an impact, does it?"

Chairman Lee Jun-seok has also repeatedly mentioned the necessity of former leader Lee Nak-yeon's candidacy. On the previous day’s CBS Radio, Chairman Lee said about former leader Lee, "I have conveyed the wish that he play a role in the Honam region." Then, appearing on Yonhap News TV on the same day, he requested him to run in the general election, saying, "If it were me, I would go to Gyeyang," adding, "It could be a very symbolic move."

The change in the constituency where Chairman Lee proposed former leader Lee to run is interpreted as a response to Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung’s indication during a private meeting with reporters the previous afternoon that he intends to run again in his current constituency, Incheon Gyeyang.

(From left) Kim Jong-min, Park Won-seok, Jo Eung-cheon, Lee Won-wook, Jeong Tae-geun, Co-Chairs of the Future United Alliance Joint Founding Preparation Committee.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Rep. Lee Won-wook also conveyed a request to Chairman Lee Jun-seok. Since the third zone new party forces have decided to break the entrenched two-party politics and solve hate politics, he asked for caution regarding actions that could be seen as 'divide and rule.'

Regarding Chairman Lee’s proposal the previous day to abolish free subway rides for the elderly, Rep. Lee said, "(Chairman Lee Jun-seok) has great potential and is very good, but I hope he fixes just one thing," emphasizing, "The reason we want to set up a third zone big tent is ultimately to overcome hate politics and stand at the forefront of political reform." He then cautiously requested, "In that sense, could we refrain from creating other forms of hate and divide and rule? Rather, I ask that we gather wisdom to create a community where we live together."

Lee Jun-seok, Chairman of the Reform New Party's Policy Committee, shaking hands with Lee Nak-yeon, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the so-called 'Nak-Jun Alliance' between the two party leaders, he diagnosed, "The ideological gap is narrowing much more," but added, "They should not just compete with each other; it is possible when we play more of the role of glue." Furthermore, concerning the third zone integration, he stated, "The goal is to declare, preferably on February 4, the last Sunday before the Lunar New Year, or at least say, 'Let's try together with this vision,' so that we can put a rich meal on the public’s Lunar New Year table." The Future Grand Alliance plans to unveil its first pledge about a 'warm community' around this weekend.

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