Why Is Lee Jun-seok Touring Constituencies of 'Yunhaekgwan' Members?

Kwon Seong-dong and Jang Je-won Visit Strongholds to Meet Party Members
Seem to Aim for Leadership Return by Rallying Supporters

People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok visited Chuncheon, Gangwon Province on the 19th and had a dinner meeting with Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Province. / Captured from Lee's Facebook [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Ju-hee] Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party who is currently in hiding after receiving a six-month suspension of party membership rights, is actively communicating with supporters while touring local areas such as Busan and Gangwon. Although he refrains from making public statements about the disciplinary decision by the party's Ethics Committee, it is interpreted that he indirectly expressed his intention not to accept the punishment. Analysts suggest that Lee is mobilizing his base and showing his will to return to the leadership position.

On the 19th, Lee had a conversation with young party members in their 20s and 30s at a Dakgalbi restaurant in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, and had a dinner meeting with Kim Jin-tae, Governor of Gangwon Province. Lee posted several photos from the meeting on Facebook, saying, "I will not forget and will continue to protect the stories of Gangwon and Chuncheon that were shared during the presidential and local election periods." He added, "Transportation in Gangwon needs to improve, and industries suited to the region's characteristics should develop further. I hope that many cutting-edge industries like Naver's data centers will be attracted to the quasi-metropolitan area."

Lee began his communication efforts by meeting young party members in downtown Gwangju on the 12th. From the 14th, he posted a meeting request form on Facebook, stating, "I will visit basic local governments that have requested meetings with more than 20 people first." On the 17th, he met young party members in Gwangalli, Busan.

Coincidentally, the Gangwon and Busan areas that Lee visited consecutively are the constituencies of Kwon Seong-dong (Gangneung), acting party leader and floor leader, and Jang Je-won (Busan Sasang), both key figures in President Yoon Seok-yeol's inner circle known as 'Yunhakkwan' (Yoon's core associates), with whom Lee has had ongoing conflicts. Some interpret this as Lee indirectly sending a political message conscious of Yunhakkwan.

During the presidential election period last December, Lee entered hiding after conflicts with Jang Je-won and made headlines by making a surprise visit to the local party member council office in Jang's constituency. At that time, political circles analyzed that Lee was staging a 'show of force' targeting Yunhakkwan.

After the Ethics Committee's disciplinary decision, Lee has refrained from public statements. Although he initially expressed his intention to oppose the decision, he did not file for a retrial or an injunction to suspend the disciplinary effect, which was interpreted as tacit acceptance of the punishment. However, recently he reaffirmed his stance of not accepting the disciplinary decision. On the 19th, Lee posted a rebuttal against media reports stating "Lee accepted the disciplinary decision," saying, "I wonder why such headlines and content appeared in the articles."

While avoiding direct criticism of the Ethics Committee and Yunhakkwan, it is analyzed that Lee is gathering forces mainly among supporters in their 20s and 30s to aim for a return to the party leadership. The reason for not pursuing opposition procedures against the discipline seems to be due to criticism of internal party strife and consideration of future police investigation results. It is interpreted that Lee judged it more advantageous to strengthen his support base through outside public opinion battles rather than launching a large-scale counterattack.

Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, said to the media after the People Power Party Daegu-Gyeongbuk Budget Policy Meeting held at the National Assembly on the 20th, "When Lee called me right after the disciplinary decision, I explained in detail, 'Even if you file for an injunction, it will not be accepted. I have seen the disciplinary documents. If that is not accepted, Lee will be politically finished.' So I asked him to focus only on judicial procedures."