President Yoon Targeted: "No Politics Hiding Behind Aides" Direct Hit
Urging 'Party Membership' to Accelerate Support Base Building
Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on the afternoon of the 13th, expressing his position regarding the provisional injunction application related to the party's transition to an emergency response committee system, followed by a Q&A session. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Ju-hee] As the Emergency Response Committee of the People Power Party was launched, former party leader Lee Jun-seok, who lost his title of 'leader,' continues a public opinion battle targeting President Yoon Seok-yeol and Yoon's key aides (Yoonhaekgwan). He directly criticized President Yoon, saying, "Politics that hide behind aides are unacceptable," and warned that if he returns, he will "retire the Yoonhaekgwan from politics."
On the 13th, Lee held a 62-minute determined press conference and has since appeared on various broadcasts, launching an all-out offensive. Although there were criticisms that the ruling party leader attacking the president was an unprecedented and excessive situation, Lee did not flinch. On the 16th, he continued sharp criticisms of President Yoon and the ruling party through social media and media interviews.
On that day, Lee appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and pointed out that President Yoon shows contradictory behavior. Referring to claims that President Yoon called him 'XX' in private, Lee said, "If you combine 'a party leader who appears once in 100 years' and 'XX,' does that mean 'XX who appears once in 100 years'? Men sometimes use the expression 'XX' when drinking and getting heated, but if the front and back don't match, that's problematic." The phrase 'a party leader who appears once in 100 years' was previously used by President Yoon to praise Lee.
In an interview with MBC Newsdesk that afternoon, Lee said, "If Yoonhaekgwan are afraid of Lee Jun-seok's return, they must make the Yoon Seok-yeol administration succeed. They just need to prove that it was enough for Lee Jun-seok to disappear," adding, "Otherwise, I will come back anytime to judge them." Lee has also filed an injunction to suspend the effectiveness of the People Power Party's transition to the Emergency Response Committee. He expressed his intention to attend the first hearing scheduled at 3 p.m. on the 17th, actively engaging in the litigation.
The reason Lee is delivering strong criticism toward President Yoon and the ruling party seems to be because he judges that regardless of the injunction's outcome, the situation will not be significantly unfavorable to him. If the injunction is granted, the Emergency Response Committee will lose its function shortly after its launch. The party leadership system, which barely stabilized, will fall into turmoil again. If the injunction is dismissed, the Emergency Response Committee will operate as planned, but Lee's outside offensive is likely to continue.
At the press conference, Lee said, "To those who say the party's confusion will worsen regardless of the outcome, I ask back: knowing that, why did you start such a big issue and think there would be no backlash?" Analysts suggest that the longer Lee's attacks continue, the more the fact that internal party conflicts remain unresolved will be highlighted, becoming a risk for President Yoon and the ruling party.
In political circles, there is an assessment that Lee Jun-seok and President Yoon and the ruling party have "crossed the point of no return," but Lee has indirectly indicated that he has not completely severed ties with the People Power Party by posting messages encouraging party membership on social media. He also announced plans to create an 'online party member communication space.' This is interpreted as his intention to accelerate building his support base through outside public opinion battles.
On the 15th, Lee appeared on JTBC Newsroom and said, "I have sufficient political space within the party and have built considerable support," adding, "I am very interested in whether the People Power Party can fundamentally reflect the thoughts of young people and become a party that can embrace a broader support base than now. I will propose ideas to achieve that, present them to the public, and maintain political power based on that strength."
Some argue that President Yoon should step in to reconcile the conflict with Lee. Since the so-called 'internal criticism' text messages exchanged between President Yoon and floor leader Kwon Seong-dong were exposed and escalated into a conflict with Lee over the Emergency Response Committee's launch, it is said that President Yoon needs to untangle the knot.
Choi Jae-hyung, a lawmaker who chaired the party innovation committee led by Lee, said in an interview with YTN Radio's 'News Direct Confrontation,' "Although it is not generally desirable for the president to intervene directly in party affairs, given the nature of this issue, I think it is a problem that only the president can solve directly," adding, "Regardless of whether it is realistically possible or not, President Yoon is broad-minded and straightforward, so it might not be impossible for him to make a big decision and embrace the situation."
However, President Yoon has avoided making specific statements regarding the conflict with Lee. When asked about it at a 100-day inauguration press conference held at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 17th, he replied, "As president, I have been focusing on stabilizing people's livelihoods and national safety, so I have not had the opportunity to properly check what political remarks other politicians have made," avoiding the question.
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