Lee Jun-seok and Pro-Yoon Faction Conflict Escalates with Hong Joon-pyo Joining... "Shaking Party Leadership Is Wrong"

Intensifying Intra-Party Conflict Over Yoon Seok-yeol's Relationship Settings

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Hong Jun-pyo, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, expressed his support for Representative Lee Jun-seok on the 23rd. As a conflict unfolded between pro-Yoon Seok-yeol faction lawmakers and Representative Lee, he opposed the division, even mentioning the party's internal split during the 'impeachment' period.

On the same day, Hong stated via social media (SNS), "It is not the proper attitude of a party member to prioritize personal relationships over public responsibilities," adding, "The same confused phenomenon occurred during the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye five years ago, and such a thing must not happen again this time."

He said, "It is wrong to recklessly shake the party leader elected by the will of party members and the people," and added, "Even if somewhat imperfect, shouldn't we all unite to support the party leader and work towards regaining power?"

On the same day, five-term lawmaker Jeong Jin-seok of the People Power Party wrote on SNS, "If our party does not protect former Prime Minister Yoon, who will fight for us?" He stated, "It is inappropriate to exert unnecessary pressure on former Prime Minister Yoon by saying that support campaigns can only be conducted for candidates within the party." This means Representative Lee should not pressure former Prime Minister Yoon, who has not clearly expressed his intentions regarding party membership and other matters.

In response, Representative Lee pushed back via SNS, saying, "I will proceed without wavering." Referring to the party atmosphere during the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election, he criticized, "Many party lawmakers blindly followed absurd stories like 'If you run as number 4, you win; if you run as number 2, you lose,'" and pointed out that "the main actors were the party members and the people who stayed centered and did not get caught up."