Sangmin Lee: "Lee Junseok, Traumatized by Bareun Party... Likely to Remain in People Power Party"

"Barun Party-Saebosu Party... Understand Difficulties of New Party"
"Lee Alone Has Limits... Geum Tae-seop and Yang Hyang-ja Must Gather for Possibility"

Lee Sang-min, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 20th regarding the possibility of former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok founding a new party, "I do not know the exact political goals or calculations, but former leader Lee has already experienced trauma and difficulties related to new parties, from the Bareun Party to the New Conservative Party," adding, "It is more likely that he will remain with the People Power Party rather than joining a new party."

In an interview with SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' on the same day, Lee said, "Former leader Lee will realize that founding a new party is not easy."

The Bareun Party was founded in January 2017 by non-Park Geun-hye faction lawmakers during the impeachment phase of former President Park Geun-hye. Former leader Lee, former leader Sohn Hak-kyu, and former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min were among its members. Later, former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min and former leader Lee declared their departure and founded the New Conservative Party in January 2020, but eventually merged into the United Future Party (the predecessor of the People Power Party) on February 17, just a month later.

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok is answering reporters' questions at Dongdaegu Station on the 9th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Nevertheless, he added, "Depending on how you think about it, if their efforts and allied forces can create room for cooperation and form a link of alliance, showing a new political model to the people, there could be potential."

Lee saw the need for an alliance in the third political zone. He said, "Lee Jun-seok's new party is just about him doing it; there is no real substance yet," adding, "They say they gathered 30,000 people, but for a political party, it is not about gathering people; it is about showing the direction and what kind of party will be formed."

He continued, "Former leader Lee alone has weaknesses and limitations. He cannot do it alone," and said, "If Geum Tae-seop, leader of New Choice, Yang Hyang-ja, leader of Hope of Korea, and other democratic forces find common ground and work together, it is possible. An example of common ground would be 'restoring politics based on common sense.'"