Lee Jun-seok, Direct Hit at Pro-Yoon Faction for 'Na Kyung-won Check' "Beat Up Anyone Not on Their Team"

"Moving the goalpost is not allowed..."
"It was never really soccer to begin with"

Former Representative Lee Jun-seok [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok strongly criticized the Presidential Office and the pro-Yoon (pro-Yoon Seok-yeol) faction regarding the March 8 party convention.

On the 9th, Lee posted on his Facebook about recent party affairs, saying, "Since moving the goalposts doesn't work, they have now started beating up players they think are not on their team. In fact, it was never really football to begin with."

Lee's post is interpreted as targeting the pro-Yoon faction's attempts to check and pressure Na Kyung-won, Vice Chair of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee, who is considering running for the party leadership. The "goalposts" he mentioned appear to refer to the People Power Party's earlier change of the party convention rules from "70% party members, 30% opinion polls" to "100% party member voting."

Vice Chair Na has ranked first in support among ruling party leadership candidates in various opinion polls, making her decision to run the biggest variable in this party convention. Party leadership candidates who have already declared their candidacy, including Representative Kim Ki-hyun, are collectively increasing their checks and pressure on Vice Chair Na.

Na Kyung-won, Vice Chairperson of the Low Birthrate and Aging Society Committee. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Pro-Yoon faction figures are focusing criticism on Vice Chair Na for challenging the party leadership while holding a presidential direct public office.

Representative Kim Jeong-jae appeared on SBS's "Joo Young-jin's News Briefing" that day and targeted Vice Chair Na, saying, "Trying to do politics against the government like this is reminiscent of the old 'Yoo Seung-min path,' isn't it?"

Furthermore, conflict surfaced as the Presidential Office blocked the "loan principal forgiveness upon childbirth" policy related to low birthrate measures that Vice Chair Na mentioned she was considering. This has effectively created a situation where the Presidential Office is pressuring Vice Chair Na not to run in the party convention, causing significant repercussions.