Shin Pyung: "Yoon President May Leave Party if Ahn Elected"

Lee Jun-seok "Threats to Party Members"

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Shin Pyeong, the chairman of the support committee for Kim Ki-hyun, a candidate for the leadership of the People Power Party, claimed that if candidate Ahn Cheol-soo is elected party leader, President Yoon Seok-yeol might leave the party. Former leader Lee Jun-seok criticized this on the 4th as "intimidation of party members," sparking a war of words.

Former leader Lee also appears to have rolled up his sleeves to actively support the party convention. Over two days starting the previous day, he broadcast real-time updates of his close ally Cheon Ha-ram’s campaign for party leader on his SNS, while posting a series of critical comments targeting rival camps of candidates Kim Ki-hyun and Ahn Cheol-soo.

On this day, Lee shared a link to an article covering Shin Pyeong’s SNS post, which suggested that if Ahn Cheol-soo becomes party leader, President Yoon Seok-yeol might leave the People Power Party and form a new party. Lee wrote, "A person who is the chairman of candidate Kim’s support committee says, 'The president may leave the party and form a new party depending on the outcome of the party convention.'"

Lee said, "The president has long said that since he cannot join the Democratic Party, he reluctantly joined the People Power Party," adding, "Saying that a new party will be formed depending on the convention results is an active act of interference." He also called it "extreme language amounting to intimidation of party members" and urged Shin to resign from his position as chairman of the support committee.

Lee further added, "And the presidential office should verify whether the person who is said to be the president’s mentor actually knows what he is talking about or if it is just delusion."

Earlier, Shin Pyeong wrote on his Facebook the previous day, "What would happen if Representative Ahn becomes party leader? Depending on the circumstances, President Yoon will be forced to form a new party through political realignment."

Shin also said, "After the faction that wants to work with President Yoon breaks away, the People Power Party will transform into a coalition party with Representative Ahn, former leader Lee, and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min," lumping Lee in as well.

In another post, Lee Jun-seok launched a 'bitter criticism' at candidate Ahn. After posting an interview article on his SNS in which a ruling party figure claimed that 'pro-North leftist forces' were involved in Ahn’s support base, Lee wrote, "Although I don’t particularly like this person, I have never thought of attacking him as pro-North."

He added, "This person is not pro-North," and pointed out, "The problem is that he neither properly addresses left-wing nor right-wing issues, so let’s properly identify the problem."