Lee Jun-seok "Party leader accused of internal betrayal? Pathetic perception" hits back at Yoon
Hong Joon-pyo criticizes Lee, "I told you to focus on judicial procedures"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, said about Lee Jun-seok, who has been making sharp remarks toward President Yoon Seok-yeol and within the People Power Party, "I tried to mediate in various ways, but now I have decided to stop." Mayor Hong had previously shown a stance that Lee should be embraced amid internal conflicts within the People Power Party.
In a post on Facebook on the 5th, Mayor Hong said, "Regardless of the reason, the party leader being disciplined and then attacking the party and the president from outside is an unprecedented situation that inevitably reminds me of the impeachment of Park Geun-hye. It must stop now."
Mayor Hong pointed out, "The Park Geun-hye administration was impeached due to internal division within the Saenuri Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party), and the Korean conservative camp has undergone tremendous trials over the past five years. After great hardship, a regime change was achieved, but due to the new government's immaturity and the resurgence of internal divisive forces similar to back then, the Yoon Seok-yeol administration has been severely struggling from the start."
He continued, "Politically, it has already become difficult for Lee Jun-seok to return as party leader. I told him to restrain himself and focus solely on judicial procedures, but his inability to endure and his extreme verbal responses to every issue were a grave mistake."
Then, addressing Lee, he said, "As a party leader, one should prioritize the regime and the country's stability over personal safety, but your current behavior can only be seen as heading toward reckless politics. Please mature and come back. I will wait until then."
Mayor Hong's remarks came after Lee posted messages criticizing President Yoon and the so-called Yoon core group (key associates of President Yoon Seok-yeol). On the same day, Lee criticized President Yoon's description of him as a "party leader who only did internal backstabbing," saying, "It is pathetic to perceive an elected party leader speaking about internal party matters as internal backstabbing." He also targeted pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol) figures within the party, saying, "They will be the first to run away when a crisis comes."
Lee Jun-seok, who was suspended from party membership for six months by the People Power Party Central Ethics Committee on July 8, has recently intensified his attacks toward President Yoon and the party as the People Power Party speeds up procedures to transition to an emergency response committee system. If the transition to the emergency committee system occurs, Lee is expected to lose his position as party leader.
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