'36-year-old Lee Jun-seok' Elected as People Power Party Leader with 43.82% Vote Share
"Judgment on Established Politics," "Opposition Chooses Change and Generational Shift"
On the 11th, at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Lee Jun-seok, the newly elected party leader, is seen with a bright expression during the party convention. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] On the 11th, ruling party presidential candidates simultaneously sent congratulatory messages to Lee Jun-seok (36), the newly elected leader of the People Power Party. They expressed their expectations for change and communication within the opposition party and emphasized that the ruling party must also change.
On the same day, former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon posted on his Facebook, saying, "The first leader in his 30s of the main opposition party. I look forward to Leader Lee's challenge, success, and future activities," adding, "I hope Leader Lee's youthful perspective and actions will bring positive changes to our entire political landscape."
He continued, "I strongly agree with the part of Leader Lee's acceptance speech where he said, 'I will coexist with different thoughts and not be bound by the past.' This is a virtue needed not only by the People Power Party but by all parties and politicians," and said, "I hope both the Democratic Party and the People Power Party will compete in a heated innovation to coexist with each other and earn the people's love."
Former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun also expressed on Facebook, "I strongly agree with the statement, 'Breaking inertia and stereotypes can change the world,'" and proposed, "Let's break stereotypes together. Let's break all discrimination in Korea together, as well as the inertia of strategic and outdated factional logic, hatred, division, and left-right ideology."
On the 11th, at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, newly elected party leader Lee Jun-seok is seen with a bright expression during the party convention. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung wrote, "People Power Party members and supporters have made a remarkable choice. I hope the 30-something, first-time leader transforms the main opposition party into a rational political force," adding, "This is a choice for Leader Lee but also a judgment on established politics. I once again feel the fear of public sentiment."
He reflected, "Our Democratic Party looks back on how much it has cut off the old habits of established politics. Whether we have completely removed political interests and are showing an attitude of debating any topic where public opinion conflicts without avoidance, whether we empathize and communicate in the language of youth, or whether we are trying to teach them?I reflect on these," emphasizing, "Change is proven by actions, not words."
Governor Lee also said, "An attitude that never underestimates the sovereign even for a moment, and competent reforms that change the lives of the people, will be the only way to turn back the people's sharp gaze," adding, "I am tense. The change of a competitor is the greatest threat and at the same time the greatest opportunity for mutual development. So it is a pleasant tension."
Democratic Party lawmaker Park Yong-jin, who declared his presidential bid, also congratulated Leader Lee, saying, "The People Power Party chose change and generational replacement," and praised, "Leader Lee broke the old political formulas such as factional politics and line-ups during the election process."
He added, "It is the result of the people's wish and common sense that 'things must change,'" and said, "I hope this will be a good opportunity to fundamentally change Korean politics."
He further stated, "Our Democratic Party must also create a generational and era change through greater change. We must practice politics that align with the people's common sense. Obvious figures and obvious values cannot take responsibility for a new era," revealing his ambition by saying, "I will start the Park Yong-jin storm, the only 97 generation (born in the 1970s, university class of the 1990s) and the youngest among ruling and opposition presidential candidates."
Meanwhile, at the People Power Party convention held that day, Leader Lee received 93,392 votes (43.8%) combining general public opinion polls and party member votes. He led candidate Na Kyung-won, who received 79,151 votes (37.1%), by a margin of 6.7 percentage points.
In his acceptance speech, Leader Lee stated, "Our top priority is to win the presidential election," and expressed his ambition to "create a party that can coexist with various presidential candidates and their supporters."
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