'Jeongsi Bus Loan' Lee Jun-seok: "Yoon's Willingness to Board Before Bus Departure Seen as Response"

On the afternoon of the 28th of last month, candidate Lee Jun-seok, a contender for party leadership, is giving a greeting at a key party officials meeting held at the People Power Party Gyeongbuk Provincial Office in Beomeo-dong, Suseong-gu, Daegu.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim So-young] Lee Jun-seok, the candidate for the People Power Party (PPP) leadership, expressed a positive outlook on the possibility of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl joining the PPP.

In an interview on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" on the 3rd, Lee said, "Based on what I have heard from former Prosecutor General Yoon and his close aides, it seems they have responded with the intention to board our (primary) bus before it even departs," expressing this view.

He explained, "What I proposed is that the primary bus runs on a fair schedule, and whether to board or not is a decision for each individual candidate."

He then directly addressed criticisms following his 'on-time bus theory,' saying, "Na Kyung-won and Joo Ho-young were worried about what would happen if the bus left before anyone got on, but those who want to board will get on by themselves."

He added, "I think (former Prosecutor General Yoon's actions) prove that what I said is close to the truth and correct."

Earlier, at the PPP leadership candidate debate held on the 31st of last month on MBC's "100-Minute Debate," Lee asserted, "The bus stops at the designated station at the designated time," and argued, "For a responsible primary, the bus must never wait for a specific person nor travel on a route desired by a specific person."

Lee also mentioned his acquaintance with political commentator Jang Ye-chan, who had a 'Yeonhui-dong meeting' with former Prosecutor General Yoon.

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is having a conversation with Mo Jong-rin, an economist of alleyway economics and professor at Yonsei University Graduate School of International Studies, and Jang Ye-chan, a current affairs commentator, at the exhibition space Cabinet located in Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul on the 1st.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee said, "Jang Ye-chan and I are close friends," but drew a line by adding, "However, we have never discussed this matter."

He emphasized again, "I now feel burdened and cannot contact him. Since Jang is known as a close aide of former Prosecutor General Yoon, if I were to make prior contact, it would show a particular interest in a specific candidate," and said, "I don't even call him."

When asked by the host whether he would visit former Prosecutor General Yoon first as the party leader or wait until Yoon comes, Lee replied, "There won't be much difference between the two," and stated, "If Yoon's side has the intention to participate in the primary through party membership, it probably doesn't matter who makes the call."

Earlier on the 2nd, Lee posted on his Facebook, "We welcome everyone who boards our party's bus. We will ensure a comfortable and safe ride," quoting an article stating that former Prosecutor General Yoon would join the PPP as a regular member right after the party convention.

He continued, "Our party is a capable party," and wrote, "It should be a platform that many presidential candidates can seek, and our party members have the duty to share the party's values and policies with all new members and to cherish and protect each other."