Rumors of Lee Jun-seok Running in Daegu Amid Criticism of 'TK Lawmaker's Obese Cat'

Seoul Nowon Withdrawal and Independent Daegu Candidacy Attempt
Kim Jong-in "If Lee Can't Enter the National Assembly Next Year, It's Over"
Kim Jae-won "Running in Daegu Will Be Criticized"

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok is consistently rumored in political circles to run for a Daegu district seat in next year's general election.

Until now, Lee has repeatedly expressed his hope to run in the Seoul Nowon-byeong district, where he has long established his base. However, as the general election approaches in about six months, his frequent activities in the Daegu area have sparked speculation that he might be leaning toward running in Daegu.

The difficulty for conservative party candidates to win in Seoul Nowon-byeong and the uncertainty over whether Lee will receive the People Power Party's nomination also contribute to these speculations. Lee has stated that he prioritizes running in Nowon-byeong but does not rule out possibilities such as running as an independent or founding a new party depending on the circumstances.

Former People Power Party Leader Lee Jun-seok. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The "Daegu candidacy rumor" arose after Lee met with Hong Joon-pyo, mayor of Daegu, at the Daegu Chimaek Festival last August. At that time, Lee denied the Daegu candidacy rumor, saying he wanted to focus on Nowon-gu. However, Lee has recently visited Daegu repeatedly. On the 12th of last month, he gave a special lecture at Daegu University, and on the 18th, he attended a policy discussion meeting in the Daegu area.

At the policy discussion, Lee criticized ruling party lawmakers from the Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) region as "obese cats who just sit and eat." He pointed out that they comfortably became members of the National Assembly in a conservative stronghold with high chances of winning. Lee also hinted at the possibility of running in Daegu if he fails to secure the nomination in Nowon-byeong, saying, "If some pot-bellied man in Daegu is called a hardline conservative by the media and it becomes meaningless to run an election in the metropolitan area, I will come out to catch that person."

Regarding Lee's recent moves, former People Power Party emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in said in a CBS radio interview, "Seeing that he goes to Daegu often, we cannot rule out the possibility (of running in Daegu)." He added, "He might run where it is appropriate," and said, "I advised Lee that if he cannot enter the National Assembly next year, it will be difficult for him to continue in politics, so he should find a way to get into the National Assembly next year by any means."

Kim Jae-won, a senior member of the People Power Party, also predicted that Lee might run as an independent in the Daegu area after being expelled from the party. In a BBS radio interview, Kim said, "If the Daegu nomination is made, it seems he will break through the weakest link among them, claim 'the nomination there was wrong, this is the fault of the Yoon core group,' and run as an independent."

However, Kim also said, "He has always insisted that he is politically active in the difficult district of Nowon-gu and said he would not leave Nowon-gu," adding, "If he leaves his workplace and campaigns in Daegu, that would be something the local residents would criticize."

Lee claims that the party has tied his hands and feet. He shared on his Facebook a photo of a promotional material in the name of the former People Power Party Nowon district committee chairman, which labeled General Hong Beom-do as a "red" and "communist," saying, "This is happening right below Nowon-byeong in Nowon, and they have tied my hands and feet, so what am I supposed to do?" He criticized the ruling party, saying, "You who planted the perception that someone would like this without reflecting on yourselves, how can you hold an election like this?"