Park Sung-min "Lee Tan-hee dreaming of electoral reform seems to want to become the second Roh Moo-hyun"

'Electoral Reform' Itanhee "I Will Relinquish Privileges"
Park Seongmin "Itanhee's Bold Move, A Courageous Decision"

Former Democratic Party Supreme Council Member Park Sung-min said on the 29th that Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Tan-hee's declaration that he would not run in next year's general election in his current district, Gyeonggi Yongin-jeong, while advocating for the preservation of the mixed-member proportional representation system without satellite parties, seems like he wants to become the second Roh Moo-hyun.

Former Supreme Council Member Park appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show' that day and said, "At a press conference yesterday, Lee stated, 'I will prevent the election system from reverting to the parallel voting system,' and 'I will stake my position,' thus making a last-ditch effort and a decisive move."

Former Supreme Council Member Park said, "'I will give up my vested interests first,' and 'let's also give up our Democratic Party vested interests in the election system.' This political message shows a very courageous decision," adding, "(Lee's district) can be considered somewhat favorable, but he is saying he will go to a difficult district."

Lee Tan-hee, member of the Democratic Party of Korea./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

He also commented that while many first-term lawmakers dream of 'their own politics' through re-election, Lee, who declared he would not run in Yongin, seems to be aiming to become the second Roh Moo-hyun.

Former Supreme Council Member Park explained, "First-term lawmakers change and gain more opportunities when they become second-term and third-term lawmakers. So when I meet first-term lawmakers who do not raise their voices, some say, 'I will be re-elected and do my own politics,' and some second-term lawmakers say, 'I will be re-elected for a third term and raise my voice more actively.'"

He continued, "But Lee's indication that he will stake everything for election system reform makes me think he wants to become the second Roh Moo-hyun. I think he is dreaming of a bigger vision, following Roh Moo-hyun's path."

Lee has advocated for maintaining the mixed-member proportional representation system and passing laws to prevent satellite parties. At a press conference the day before, Lee said, "Our party has insisted on giving up vested interests and preserving the mixed-member proportional representation system, and keeping the promise to the people not to create satellite parties. I will give up my vested interests first. I will not run in the Yongin-jeong district in the next general election."

Lee added, "For the party's decision, I will go wherever the party asks me to go. I will go to any difficult district where our party is struggling."