Lee Jun-seok Opposes Joo Su-jin Public Relations Director's Defiance
Party's Internal Recovery Plan in Busan
Lee Jun-seok, Standing Election Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is attending the Central Election Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th and delivering a speech. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
[Asia Economy Reporters Naju-seok and Park Jun-i] The People Power Party is once again plunged into internal strife amid conflicts between the party leader and the head of the election campaign committee's public relations team. Representative Lee Jun-seok has taken a last-ditch stance by pressuring Director Jo to decide on his position, demanding his resignation as the head of the election campaign committee. If Director Jo does not make a decision, he is expected to hold a press conference on the afternoon of the 21st to announce his intention to resign.
On the morning of the same day, Representative Lee announced through a notice that he would express his position at 4 p.m. Earlier that morning, in a text message sent to a media outlet, he took a strong stance, saying, "Since Director Jo declared that the position has no meaning in the command structure, he will resign as the standing election campaign committee head." The previous day, Representative Lee had a dispute with Director Jo over the public relations team's negative response issues during a central election campaign committee meeting. Director Jo expressed his intention to continue his duties by posting the ‘Seok-yeol hyung Daily Communication’ in the name of the public relations team on his Facebook and other platforms from early morning.
The direct conflict arose when Director Jo defied Representative Lee's orders. At the previous day's campaign committee meeting, Director Jo refused to follow Lee's instructions, stating, "I only listen to Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party's presidential candidate." A representative from Lee's side said in a phone call that day, "Currently, the campaign committee has effectively lost its command and control system," and added, "I believe Representative Lee can make some statements or decisions regarding the overall flaws within the campaign committee."
More fundamentally, it is analyzed that the internal conflicts within the campaign committee, which had been patched up through meetings such as the Ulsan gathering, have resurfaced. During the Ulsan meeting with presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol, Representative Lee had demanded the party resolve issues related to Yoon's core associates (Yunhaekgwan), and he also pointed out related problems at the previous day's campaign committee meeting. However, if communication with Director Jo occurs before the press conference, there is a possibility that the conflict may be resolved.
The party is currently considering measures to manage the situation. Kim Jong-in, the People Power Party's overall election campaign committee chairman, said in an interview with this publication, "If there is a mistake, honestly admit it, and if one side accepts it, how else can it be resolved?" Kim Yong-tae, a close aide to Representative Lee and a senior party official, also suggested Director Jo's collective resignation from party positions as a solution. Lawmaker Jang Je-won criticized both as a ‘ragtag group.’
However, the party atmosphere is generally favorable toward Representative Lee. Lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung supported Lee, saying, "A presidential election without Representative Lee Jun-seok is a losing game," and Lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo labeled Director Jo Su-jin as a ‘troublemaker,’ stating, "Representative Lee must take drastic measures to restore party discipline and remove troublemakers."
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