Yongho Lee: "Kim Gunhee Suspicion Is Not a Matter to Discuss Within the Party"

"The meeting yesterday was a place to discuss people's livelihoods"

Regarding the exclusion of discussions about the 'Kim Geon-hee luxury handbag bribery allegations' during the luncheon meeting attended by President Yoon Suk-yeol and Han Dong-hoon, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, Rep. Lee Yong-ho of the People Power Party said, "It was a meeting to discuss livelihood issues," and stated that it was not a situation for the party to talk about it.

Lee Yong-ho, Member of the People Power Party. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

On the 30th, Rep. Lee appeared on KBS Radio's 'Jeonggyeok Sisa' and said, "As you know, there are more than one or two issues between the party and the government," adding, "I understand that they discussed measures on issues such as reconstruction and redevelopment plans, transportation measures like railway undergrounding, and the expanded enforcement of the Serious Accident Punishment Act."

He continued, "As Emergency Response Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon said, the party handles party affairs and the government handles government affairs, so each has its own position," and said, "In that context, the presidential office should clarify its stance on Mrs. Kim's issue, and it is not a situation where the party should be making various comments about it."

Regarding former People Power Party Rep. Yoo Seung-min, who has publicly criticized President Yoon Suk-yeol but chose to remain in the party, Rep. Lee analyzed, "His statement that he will not leave seems to be a declaration of his intention to engage in politics with a long-term perspective," and added, "Since there have been betrayal frames from the conservative side, I think this is a political move to dilute such perceptions."

On Rep. Lee Joon-seok, leader of the Reform New Party, expressing displeasure over the party name 'Reform Future Party,' which combines New Future and Future Coalition, Rep. Lee evaluated it as a "power struggle."

Rep. Lee said, "At this stage, each side has no choice but to go separately, but I believe they will eventually come together," adding, "Because it will be difficult for the public to recognize multiple medium-sized tents as a third alternative." He also said, "Although there is this power struggle, in order to bring the public to the voting booths, these forces need to be recognized as an alternative force, so I think these groups will strategically unite as the election approaches."

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