Yoon Seok-yeol's Sudden 'Chimaek Meeting'
Defusing Party Backlash by Mentioning 'Daedongsoi' to Pressure Yoon
Song Young-gil's Dinner 'Supplementary Budget Agreement' Ultimately a Decisive Victory
[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] No matter how much he is shaken, he does not waver. Despite the barrage of checks from within the party against Lee Jun-seok, the People Power Party leader, whose 'unconventional' actions have continued for a month and a half since his inauguration, his 'leadership' appears stable for now. Although he might feel burdened and pressured, he rarely loses his composure.
Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, attended the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 26th and performed a background painting performance before the meeting started. This performance suggests that the possibility of former Prime Minister Yoon joining the People Power Party has increased significantly after the dinner the previous day. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@
A prominent figure who has voiced criticism of Lee's various actions is Kim Jae-won, a Supreme Council member. On the 25th, he criticized Lee, saying that the party leader was putting excessive pressure on former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, stating, "It is against the code of conduct for the party leader to attack a presidential candidate from the same camp." However, on the 26th, Kim said, "The most touching thing about the meeting between former Prosecutor General Yoon and Lee was the phrase 'Daedongsoi' (大同小異, meaning 'largely the same with minor differences')," adding, "I think they should be a source of hope for the people who long for a regime change."
The sudden shift from criticism to praise was triggered by Lee's decisive decision to meet. On the 25th, after having a chicken and beer meeting with former Prosecutor General Yoon, Lee mentioned 'Daedongsoi.' Previously, senior pro-Yoon faction members close to Yoon had continuously voiced opposition, claiming that Lee was pressuring Yoon excessively. Moreover, despite Lee's ban, People Power Party district committee heads such as Park Min-sik, Lee Hak-jae, Ham Kyung-woo, and Kim Byung-min joined Yoon's campaign en masse, escalating tensions within the party.
As a result, Lee's unwavering actions are evaluated to have significantly changed the situation. Following the chicken and beer meeting, the possibility of former Prosecutor General Yoon joining the party increased, dispelling the potential clash between Lee and the pro-Yoon faction. Furthermore, after the Supreme Council meeting on the 26th, Lee warned reporters, saying, "If the presidential candidate (former Prosecutor General Yoon) does not join and the primary race starts, it can only be judged that the district committee heads who joined Yoon's side are clearly helping an outsider." If Yoon does not join by the end of August, when the party primary begins, disciplinary action against the four district committee heads will be inevitable. Lee skillfully employs defense, disregard, reversal, and counterattack at critical moments.
Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 26th and is talking with Supreme Council member Kim Jae-won during the meeting. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
The dinner meeting with Song Young-gil, the leader of the Democratic Party, which had sparked a crisis theory about Lee, was ultimately analyzed as a 'decisive victory' for Lee. At that time, Lee agreed to the nationwide disaster relief fund payment with the caveat of it being a 'remaining resource.' This sparked strong opposition within the party. However, according to the supplementary budget bill passed by the National Assembly on the 24th, the budget for small business support increased, but disaster relief payments were limited. Lee's flagship pledge, the 'Public Official Qualification Exam,' which most Supreme Council members opposed, is also being steadily promoted through the 'Capability Enhancement Task Force.'
So far, Lee's leadership remains intact, but whether this trend can continue is uncertain. When controversy arose over the reversal regarding the disaster relief fund, Lee candidly expressed, "Maybe it's because I'm a newly appointed leader and somewhat young." This was a subtle expression of his dissatisfaction that there is clearly a current within the party trying to shake him, who is politically weak and from the non-mainstream faction.
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