"Can't we let Yoon be the main character just this once?"
"It's time to break brotherly pride for regime change"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Jang Ye-chan, who served as a youth special advisor in Yoon Seok-yeol's People Power Party presidential primary campaign, urged Lee Jun-seok, the People Power Party leader who has been laying low amid a 'passing controversy,' to "return to Seoul immediately without any conditions and devote all efforts to regime change."
On the 2nd, Jang posted an open letter addressed to Lee on his Facebook. He began, "Leader Lee Jun-seok. No, Jun-seok hyung. This is the first and last time I will write you an open letter."
He pointed out, "You are not a 37-year-old young politician but the leader of the main opposition party. I respect and understand your position that you want to be treated as the party leader, not as a youth. However, making explosive remarks on Facebook while intoxicated and suddenly traveling between Busan and Suncheon is not behavior befitting the party leader on the verge of regime change."
He continued, "Usually, you insist on being treated as the party leader, but when things get unfavorable, you act as if you should be understood because you are a 37-year-old youth. That is not like you. If something bothers you, isn't your style to confront it head-on?"
Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate (right), and Lee Jun-seok, the party leader. / Photo by Yonhap News
Jang said, "No matter how many people work hard for regime change, the main character is the candidate. Even if the presidential election goes in a different direction from the plan you originally envisioned, we, regardless of rank, must respect the candidate's wishes and be supporting actors who contribute to regime change. Can't you yield the leading role to the candidate just this once?"
He added, "It is time for you to swallow your pride for regime change. Because you are the leader of the main opposition party," urging, "Please return to party affairs immediately and declare that you will devote everything solely to regime change."
Furthermore, he emphasized, "You are not a shrimp caught in a fight between whales. You are the wave that pushes the whales. Jun-seok hyung, I believe you will be a stepping stone, not an obstacle, to regime change."
Lee posted a brief message on his Facebook on the 29th of last month saying, "Then, this is it," and has since canceled all schedules and remained out of sight for three days.
Some interpret that Lee's actions were influenced by controversies such as the inclusion of Lee Soo-jung, a criminal psychology professor at Kyonggi University, whom Lee publicly opposed recruiting, the failed inclusion of former emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in, and the passing over of schedules.
On the 30th of last month, Lee went down to Busan, met former National Assembly Speaker Chung Eui-hwa, and visited the office of Jang Je-won, a close aide of candidate Yoon, in Busan Sasang district. On the following day (the 1st), he visited Suncheon and Yeosu in Jeollanam-do, and it is known that he has now moved to Jeju.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
