Eonju Lee: "Disappointed in Yoon Surrounded by Entrenched Interests... Busy with Self-Serving and Line-Up"

"Joining the party as if chased, then busy lining up lawmakers right after entering"
"The 'Hong Jun-pyo Phenomenon' is not about individual popularity but a phenomenon"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential primary candidate, raises his hand to greet after speaking at the 'Gyeongnam Election Committee Appointment Ceremony' held at the Gyeongnam Provincial Party Office in Uichang-gu, Changwon, on the afternoon of the 19th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Former Future United Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) lawmaker Lee Eon-ju sharply criticized former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, saying, "Before talking about 'dissolving the party,' I hope he looks back on himself first." Lee currently serves as co-chairman of the joint election countermeasures committee at Hong Joon-pyo’s People Power Party presidential primary campaign.

In a post on his Facebook page that day, Lee pointed out, "When former Yoon first announced his intention to enter politics, I expected new politics, but his actions so far have been disappointing."

He sharpened his criticism, saying, "There was no political reform agenda as expected, and he seemed to be rushing to join the People Power Party as if being chased, then immediately busy lining up lawmakers once he entered."

He continued, "Many people were worried seeing him more focused on increasing his faction than reflecting on national governance and reform, lining up lawmakers who are constitutional institutions," and "He was so absorbed in the primary that he practically preemptively secured party district chiefs from the start and circulated petitions."

He added, "As former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in also criticized as a 'swarm of flies,' aren't all sorts of controversial and corrupt figures, or those long retired, lining up to reappear on the front lines?" and questioned, "Though it sounds grand as a mammoth-level camp, isn't a campaign camp ultimately a 'debt of position' in elections?"

Lee said, "Ironically, former Yoon is now surrounded by vested political powers and legal vested interests, the old conservative forces," and claimed, "In the place they left, there is a reform faction hoping for a change of vested interests with Hong Joon-pyo as the central figure, along with new conservative forces in their 20s to 40s."

He diagnosed, "It is former Yoon who has been supported by forces wanting to maintain vested interests," and "Hong, who has not compromised with vested interests, has presented political reform agendas and is receiving expectations for change of vested interests mainly from those in their 20s to 40s."

He also urged, "The current 'Hong Joon-pyo phenomenon' has become a phenomenon, not just individual popularity," and "I appeal to the seniors in their 60s and 70s, who are the history of our party and still support former Yoon. I hope you open the way in this presidential election so that a new history can be written."