Lee Jun-seok: "More than half of Daegu lawmakers will be replaced... I will run where there is a valid reason"

Press Conference Before Attending Daegu Talk Concert
"The Party Formation Cannot Be Later Than December 27"

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok visited Daegu and said, "More than half of the 12 Daegu National Assembly members might be replaced in next year's general election."

On the 26th, Lee attended the talk concert titled "Our Concerns for a Better Future" held at Daegu EXCO and held a press conference before the concert to answer questions.

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok is giving a speech at the talk concert "Our Concerns for a Better Future" held on the 26th at EXCO in Buk-gu, Daegu.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

At this event, regarding former Supreme Council member Kim Jae-won's recent remark that "Lee Jun-seok will run against the weakest candidate in Daegu," Lee said, "In a situation where a large-scale reshuffle is expected in Daegu, judging who is weak is meaningless," adding, "I think former Supreme Council member Kim Jae-won believes others will act as he has lived."

When asked if he had any intention to run in Daegu or had a specific constituency in mind, he replied, "I receive similar questions in Seoul, and if Representative Kang Dae-sik is unfairly excluded from the nomination, I say I would run in Dong-gu Eul. If I decide to run, I will go to a place with a justifiable reason."

He stated, "If I establish a new party and run in Daegu, I will never run alone," adding, "I am having conversations with enough people, and some have expressed their sympathy. I will not run as a People Power Party candidate in Daegu."

Regarding the timing of the party's establishment, he said, "Just the day before yesterday, several of our party members called me asking if I could wait longer than December 27 to make a decision," adding, "If it is delayed any further, my options will be reduced. It can be earlier, but it cannot be later."

He continued, "Under normal circumstances (within the People Power Party), there were also radical proposals," explaining, "Because the current situation is a serious crisis for conservative parties, I am firmly rejecting normal proposals or opinions based on the current standards."

When asked about the unfavorable public sentiment in Daegu, he said, "The challenge in Daegu is a difficult one, so it has value," adding, "I have a concrete plan on how to overcome it if the actual situation arises, but it is a trade secret."

Regarding rumors about Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon running in the general election, he said, "I don't think there is a possibility of him running in Daegu."

On the same day as the talk concert, an "Im Young-woong concert" was held at EXCO, and in response to claims that Lee intended this to increase his influence, he said, "No matter how much controversy is created to attack Lee Jun-seok, it does not eliminate the party's crisis," adding, "Since I have been coming and going to Daegu, it seems Daegu has changed a lot. In just a few weeks, high-ranking officials have been coming and going to Daegu and talking a lot about Daegu."

Finally, he said, "I will not praise Daegu vaguely," adding, "Because Daegu's change is precious to the change in South Korean politics."