[Interview] Lee Jun-seok "New party will succeed if it receives 10% support"

Sindang "All or Nothing, Could Also Be Baekdo"
"If Founded, Will Take the Most Difficult Role"
"Now Is the Time to Launch Noah's Ark"

"At least, I will not create a situation where we only look at the president's mouth. I want to create a party that can engage in debates."

On the 21st, former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok said this in an interview with Asia Economy. He has declared that if President Yoon Seok-yeol and the party do not change by December 27, he will establish a new party.

Former leader Lee stated that he will pursue "politics without sacred cows." He said, "'Lee Jun-seok politics' challenges many things that the existing political grammar does not touch." "For example, during the 2021 Seoul mayoral by-election with Oh Se-hoon, when gender conflict was said to be at the center of the agenda, many people did not believe it. By 2022 and 2023, gender policy had become a policy to be avoided. However, now, no party can run an election without a clear stance on that (gender policy)," he said. He emphasized, "That is the starting point for conflict resolution and policy considerations."

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Former leader Lee also cited the verbal exchange he had with Park Kyung-seok, the executive director of the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Disability Discrimination, as another example. He said, "If there is a manual for dealing with disability groups in Yeouido, it is generally to meet them, say 'yes, yes,' send them away, and then cut off contact," adding, "Those people were angry because they had been treated like that for about 20 years."

He continued, "While discussing mobility rights for the disabled with Director Park Kyung-seok, I said, 'No matter how desperate it is, it is problematic to protest by tying up the feet of people riding Line 4 subway trains. I cannot tolerate such actions even if conservative groups do them.' Then I proposed having a public debate." The two held two live broadcast debates on Lee’s YouTube channel during his tenure as party leader (April 13 and May 12, 2022). He expressed confidence, saying, "The videos garnered nearly 1.3 million views, which was probably a more efficient and constructive method than any campaign the disability groups have done so far."

In Lee’s view, conservatives have maintained hegemony by labeling opponents as "pro-North Korean" or "red" over security issues. On the other hand, progressives have tried to gain an advantage by not allowing alternative approaches to issues such as environment, labor, human rights, and women. He said, "I observed all these processes while studying in the U.S. There was a time when McCarthyism was rampant in the U.S., and there was also political correctness (PC) that attached hate to anything. Because that went too far, paradoxically, someone like Trump, who advocated anti-PC, became president." He added, "In the future, conservatives will not have a special advantage just by labeling opponents as reds. Conservatives must actively participate in social debates. They need training and preparation for that. If I were to run a party, that is what I want to change."

Regarding the 'fraudulent election' controversy, former leader Lee judged it as "a case where conservatives lost their intellect." He said, "There are people who have lost their intellect, and cowardly people who must follow them to survive have joined forces." He emphasized that conservatives should stop being swayed by conspiracy theories and restore a sensible image.

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

He expressed concern about the extinction of conservatism and said now is the time to launch a "Noah's Ark." Former leader Lee said, "Whether it was the Bareunmirae Party or others, the most heartbreaking moment was when people who trusted the party and ran in elections fell one after another," adding, "More than 1,000 candidates were eliminated." He continued, "Because I know how terrifying that is, if things continue as they are, the future People Power Party will all die. Rather, if we want to be responsible and look a little further into the future, I think we need to launch a Noah's Ark, put an elephant and a giraffe in it, and save this species."

Former leader Lee has been meeting people while eating four meals a day recently. This is to form the party with various figures if he establishes it. He said, "I meet and share opinions with important and necessary people over meals and communicate in various ways," but added, "However, I try not to approach things recklessly. I will not disclose everyone I meet now. There are quite a few people I meet and consult with."

Regarding the success potential of the new party, former leader Lee predicted, "It could be all or nothing, or it could be a white move." He said, "I intend to go in the direction hoping for the all move," adding, "While the act of founding a party itself has significance, succeeding in founding a party means that at least several million Korean citizens are sending me their support. I take that precious opportunity seriously." He added, "If I receive even 10% support, I will devote myself to creating a new form of party."

Former leader Lee emphasized that if the party is founded, he will take on the most difficult role. He said, "It could be a way to compete against a leading figure of the opposing party, or it could be a challenge in Daegu or Gyeongbuk, which is one of the most difficult challenges for a new party due to regional dynamics," adding, "I cannot specify what it will be now because a party is not a one-person endeavor, and strategies may vary depending on whether several people participate in such challenges."

Regarding the analysis that the timing of the new party's founding is delayed, former leader Lee said that former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop (New Choice) and lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja (Hope of Korea) diagnosed that "it seems the stall was set up too early before the journey began." Former lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, who left the Bareunmirae Party in the last general election, founded a party in February, about two months before the April election. Lee said, "I thought that moving first could become the core of the third zone, so I moved, but the timing was hasty."

When asked about the core policies of the party, he said, "Now is the time for politics," and "The views of individual Lee Jun-seok and the views of Party Lee Jun-seok may differ later." He added, "When people gather, we need to agree on the direction through reasonable discussions then," and "Because it is something that collective members must decide, even if we push for a new party, we will not lay everything out now."