Lee Jun-seok "Conflict with Ahn Cheol-soo? ... Similar to 'Tom and Jerry'"

Ahn Cheol-soo, Chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee (left), and Lee Jun-seok, Leader of the People Power Party (right), are greeting each other at the 31st Vision Korea National Report Conference hosted by Maeil Business Newspaper and MBN, held on the 23rd of last month at the Shilla Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, described his relationship with Ahn Cheol-soo, chairman of the Presidential Transition Committee, as "not a conflict relationship," but likened it to "Tom and Jerry." 'Tom and Jerry' is a famous American animation about the rivalry between a cat named Tom and a mouse named Jerry.

On the 11th, Lee appeared on MBC Radio's 'Pyo Chang-won's News High Kick' and said this, responding to the question of who is 'Jerry' with "Imagine it yourselves."

He added, "Sometimes we call each other when there is something to discuss," and "We also talk on the phone when discussing the merger."

Regarding Ahn's refusal to take the position of election campaign committee chairman for the upcoming June 1 local elections, Lee said, "I threw it out through the media, and since he said no, I will throw it out again later. I will ask him again," adding, "I will even make ten visits to ask." He also said, "Tom and Jerry usually have a happy ending near the end."

In response to the view that the position of campaign committee chairman under the party leader could be a poisoned chalice for Ahn, Lee said, "If you think like that, you can't do anything," and added, "If you take it, it's my credit; if you don't, it's not my credit. You can't do anything if you think like this."

He continued, "For example, I had former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in as campaign committee chairman in the last presidential election, but Kim Jong-in was not my subordinate. People with strong pride and confidence don't care about that at all," and said, "I think Ahn might feel some burden in carrying out practical work because he is not yet familiar with the candidates in our party, but of course, the party will assist him."

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