"Yoon Learned About Sejong Visit Schedule Through Media First"
Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, and Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Amid ongoing controversy within the People Power Party over 'party leader passing,' Lee Jun-seok, the party leader, said regarding Yoon Seok-yeol, the party's presidential candidate's schedule in Sejong, "At the very least, please ask me and decide on any schedule announced as one that Lee Jun-seok will attend."
On the 29th, Lee posted on his Facebook, "I first learned through the media that after Candidate Yoon chaired the Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 29th, Kim Byung-joon, Standing Election Committee Chairman; Won Hee-ryong, Policy Headquarters Director; Joo Ho-young, Organization Headquarters Director; Lee Jun-seok, Public Relations and Media Headquarters Director; Kwon Seong-dong, Comprehensive Support Headquarters Director; and Kwon Young-se, Chief Special Advisor, would visit Sejong together."
He continued, "There is no need to report the candidate's schedule to me in advance, but at the very least, please ask me and decide on any schedule announced as one that Lee Jun-seok will attend," adding, "It is important to discuss 'in advance.' People who have appointments with me on Monday have been asking if the schedule changed after seeing the news, and if I don't go, it suddenly seems like I didn't go, giving those who seek to stir discord within the party an excuse."
He said, "I am fully booked on that day and cannot visit Sejong," and "The media asked me if I would accompany the Sejong schedule, and I only received contact from the staff in the afternoon," adding, "If they just ask me in advance about Lee Jun-seok's schedule, it can be resolved."
He also pointed out, "It is the first day of the launch of the Election Committee, so I wonder why I have to confirm these facts," and said, "If the schedule requested to me is discussed in advance, that would be sufficient."
Meanwhile, regarding the passing controversy surrounding him the previous day, Lee said, "I'm tired of the passing controversy now. The candidate has unlimited authority and unlimited responsibility in the election," and "There can be no passing controversy from the start. It is not a problem if the party leader is not consulted."
However, on the 29th, he stated on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "Until yesterday, before it was released to the media, I had never heard about going to Chungcheong," and "Because I didn't hear about it, this is Lee Jun-seok passing, and secondly, there will be people trying to sow discord by saying 'Lee Jun-seok does not cooperate with the candidate's schedule.' From my perspective, it's absurd. But this keeps happening."
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