Lee Jun-seok "Wrong Prediction on Internal Conflict in People Power Party... Underestimating President Yoon Again"

"Jeong Jeong-sik's Stance Not a Sign of Yoon's Disapproval"
"Just Appoint a New Policy Committee Chair," Advice Given Too

Lee Jun-seok, a lawmaker from the Reform New Party, admitted on the 1st that "my prediction was wrong" regarding the prospects of internal conflict within the People Power Party after the party convention. Previously, Lee, who served as the party leader of the People Power Party, had predicted that internal conflicts would intensify about a week after Han Dong-hoon took office as the party leader. On the 1st, Lee appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said, "From the first day, there was stubbornness over Chairman Jeong's issue."

Lee Jun-seok, Member of the Reform New Party Photo by Yonhap News

He added, "Once again, I underestimated President Yoon Seok-yeol too much." Regarding the controversy over replacing Jeong Jeong-sik, the chairman of the People Power Party's Policy Committee, which shows signs of conflict between pro-Yoon and pro-Han factions, Lee said, "It was a nonsensical controversy from the start," and pointed out, "If Han Dong-hoon just says he will appoint a new policy committee chairman, that would be the end of it." He continued, "Chairman Jeong, as a three-term lawmaker, should understand the party's dynamics," and described the current debate over whether Chairman Jeong should step down as "an absurd situation."

Lee referred to his own appointment of Kim Do-eup as the policy committee chairman when he was appointed leader of the People Power Party in July 2021, saying, "I don't even remember who was there before. If I just said I would appoint a new chairman without caring about the existing one, that would be the end of it," and emphasized, "Even now, Han just needs to announce whom he will appoint."

He added, "Whether to remove Chairman Jeong should never become a controversy. If Han just said, 'I will appoint so-and-so as the policy committee chairman,' that would have been the end of it," and criticized, "Because Han is hesitating, it has turned into a standoff like a strongman confrontation."

Regarding President Yoon's remarks during a meeting with Han, implying "handle party positions as you see fit," Lee said, "If he really said that, it is truly deplorable," and argued, "Chairman Jeong wouldn't be acting against the president's wishes. No, the president must have given some kind of signal."

On the internal backlash related to the Marine Corps Special Prosecutor Act, which Han had pledged to recommend through a third party, Lee said, "There is no power stronger than public opinion," and added, "If the lawmakers unite their will, they cannot move forward even a step."

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