Lee Jun-seok "An, I don't know what he's saying... Yoon is interfering in the election"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok pointed out that President Yoon Seok-yeol is openly interfering in the party leadership election. He criticized candidate Ahn Cheol-soo, saying, "I don't know what he is talking about."

On the 6th, on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' when asked by the host, "Do you think President Yoon Seok-yeol is openly interfering in the current party leadership election?" Lee replied, "Of course," expressing this view.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He also predicted that President Yoon might take a tough stance against candidate Cheon Ha-ram, who is part of the 'Lee Jun-seok faction.' Lee said, "Looking at the support ratings Cheon candidate received today, the initial numbers are quite high, so I think if that causes a sense of crisis, he will probably respond to it. People who use the term 'Yoon Hae-gwan (Yoon Seok-yeol core associates)' are labeled as enemies."

This was a pointed remark about the presidential office strongly criticizing candidate Ahn for publicly criticizing People Power Party lawmaker Jang Je-won as a 'Yoon Hae-gwan,' even using the word 'enemy.'

Nevertheless, Lee expressed a critical view of candidate Ahn. He said, "If former lawmaker Na Kyung-won had lived a non-mainstream life, then we could say, 'Let's raise this and try it,' and it might work, but Ahn himself was also surprised, wondering 'Why am I suddenly being pushed like this?' Now, listening to what he said earlier today while waiting for the radio, I honestly don't quite understand what he is saying."

Earlier that day, candidate Ahn, in an interview with MBC radio before Lee, said he did not expect the presidential office's reaction and promised not to use the term 'Yoon Hae-gwan.'

Regarding this, Lee said, "I don't think anyone expected more than that, so I am not surprised," and explained, "What the public is interested in now is that when the next nomination happens, of course, Yongsan will try to intervene. Then, what will the newly elected party leader say about that? For example, will they conduct a bottom-up nomination process, or will they just accept the list given by Yongsan and carry out the orders?"

This means candidate Ahn has not provided an answer about transparent nominations. Lee said, "Ahn talks about how he can do well in the metropolitan area and win the election, but he needs to give a clear answer about the nominations," adding, "For example, will he do bottom-up nominations or not?"

Candidate Ahn seems to be absorbing the 'non-Yoon (非尹)' votes following the withdrawal of former lawmakers Yoo Seung-min and Na Kyung-won. However, with the emergence of 'Lee Jun-seok faction' candidate Cheon Ha-ram, the non-Yoon votes are consolidating around him. In the CBS-Jowon C&I poll, Cheon ranked fourth in a multi-candidate race. Considering that Cheon was not previously included in polls, this is an encouraging result.

Lee explained, "I also encouraged (Cheon candidate), and in fact, Cheon himself felt the need to step up and speak about the recent situation," adding that the reason for encouraging him to run was "because former lawmaker Yoo did not run."

He said, "I thought former lawmaker Yoo would run. I believed there was a justification, but I don't know why he didn't run this time," and added, "There are many party members within the People Power Party who have a sense of problem, and the recognition that someone should represent their opinions overlaps with the similar thoughts that Cheon and I share."