"Then, This Is It"... Lee Jun-seok, Involved in 'Passing Controversy', Sends a Meaningful Message

Conflicts Over Days Regarding Predecessor Committee Appointments and Communication Issues
Yoon Seok-yeol Candidate Also Failed to Receive Schedule Properly
"There Must Be Those Trying to Sow Discord... It Keeps Happening"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, and Lee Jun-seok, the party leader, are attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 25th, talking before the meeting starts. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Regarding the personnel appointments of the People Power Party's election campaign committee (ECC), conflicts between presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol and party leader Lee Jun-seok have continued day after day. This time, Lee posted a cryptic message saying, "If so, this is the end," sparking speculation about his future actions.

On the 29th, Lee posted a brief message on his Facebook saying, "If so, this is the end." Shortly after, he wrote another post including the emoticon '^_^p', which signifies a smiling face. Again, no further explanation was provided.

This led to various speculations among netizens. Some expressed anxiety, asking, "Does this mean he intends to resign as party leader?" Supporters urged party unity, saying, "If Lee disappears from the People Power Party, the votes of the 2030 generation will be gone as well. We need to compromise."

Some People Power Party supporters criticized Lee for deliberately stirring conflict. One netizen said, "Lee is putting on another resignation show," and scolded, "Does he want to lower Yoon's approval ratings and bring Kim Jong-in back?"

CEO Lee's message posted on his Facebook on the 29th / Photo by Lee Jun-seok, captured from Facebook

Previously, Lee and candidate Yoon had been clashing daily over the ECC personnel appointments.

Regarding the recruitment of former People Power Party emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in, Lee emphasized, "He is a prize that money can't buy," and insisted, "We must give him full authority." However, Kim's joining the Yoon campaign remains uncertain. On the other hand, Lee publicly opposed the recruitment of Professor Lee Soo-jung from Kyonggi University’s Department of Criminal Psychology, who has now joined the ECC.

Meanwhile, on the 29th, Lee expressed dissatisfaction in an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' saying he was not properly informed about Yoon's schedule.

Regarding Yoon's schedule in the Chungcheong region, Lee said, "Until yesterday, before it was released to the media, I had never heard about going there," and added, "There will be people trying to sow discord by saying 'Lee Jun-seok is being bypassed' or 'Lee Jun-seok is not cooperating with the candidate's schedule.' From my perspective, this is absurd, but it keeps happening."

As this situation continued, some within the party raised concerns that Lee was being 'bypassed.'

On the 26th, People Power Party lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo expressed concern on his Facebook, stating, "All party matters must go through the party leader," and added, "A party that bypasses and looks down on its leader is nothing more than an interest group and cannot be considered a party. No matter how young, the elected leader is the party's top elder."