"Bet on Not Going Together"... Geum Tae-seop and Lee Jun-seok Meeting Sparks Various Interpretations in Political Circles

Kim Geun-sik "Lee Jun-seok lacks ability to form a new party"
Bok Gi-wang "Will discuss new party sufficiently"
Lee Jun-seok "55% chance of founding a new party"

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok and Geum Tae-seop, the preparatory committee chairman of the new party Saeroun Seontaek, met on the 10th, sparking varied interpretations within political circles about the impact their contact could have on next year's general election. Lee recently hinted at founding a new party, and Geum is attempting to consolidate third-way forces centered around the new party Saeroun Seontaek, leading to speculation that if the two join forces, they could absorb a significant portion of the moderate conservative vote.

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok is answering questions from reporters at Dongdaegu Station on November 9, 2023. Photo by Yonhap News

Generally, the ruling party reacts that their meeting will amount to nothing more than a 'tempest in a teacup.' Kim Geun-sik, the People Power Party Songpa-byeong district committee chairman, appeared on YTN News & Issue and said, "They say Lee Jun-seok and Geum Tae-seop are meeting, but I know Geum well. It's just that former chairman Kim Jong-in told them to meet, so they are meeting, but I would bet that there is absolutely no chance they will go together."

Kim also commented on Lee, saying, "His departure from the party is a foregone conclusion, but the talk about founding a new party seems like something he says off the cuff when reporters put a microphone in front of him," and added, "Who would join Lee Jun-seok in a new party now? He lacks the ability, capacity, political experience, and influence to form a new party."

On the morning of the 23rd of last month, former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop is presenting at the 2nd National Discussion Forum of Korea's Hope held at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Seo-gu, Gwangju.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the other hand, Bok Gi-wang, the Democratic Party's Asan-gap district committee chairman, said on the same broadcast, "Even if Geum and former chairman Kim Jong-in do not reach a conclusion today, they will have sufficient discussions on what the path to a new party is and how to pursue it most effectively," and evaluated, "It seems they are going through the process of figuring out how to secure more leadership in the conservative camp during the party formation and how to gain more legitimacy for the new party."

Bok also interpreted that Lee might actually aim to run as an independent in the Daegu region, saying, "Going independent without a new party is tantamount to going to die," and added, "It would be more promising to start by receiving the People Power Party nomination in Nowon-byeong." He further said, "From Lee's perspective, rather than entering alone, being treated like a child or a fool while holding a seat in isolation, he might think of taking a desperate gamble with that force."

Kim Jong-in, former emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, who was present at the meeting, positively evaluated the encounter, saying, "The two share the same goals," and "They have no choice but to work together." After meeting Geum, Lee posted on social media, "I will continue to have conversations with various people interested in political reform."

Later, on CBS's 'Approval Rating Countermeasure Meeting,' when asked by the host whether he would keep open the possibility of founding a new party or forming some political coalition, Lee said, "Of course, I keep it open. I did not see any disagreement today that would deny that possibility," and added, "Today, we only discussed perspectives on political reform."

Regarding the possibility of founding a new party, he said, "It's not that I will definitely leave the party and 100% found a new party," and explained, "I understood that some room is left open, and today the probability (of founding a new party) is 55%. A few days ago, it was 50%, and it increases by 1% every day, so today it is about 55%."