Lee Jun-seok: "Anti-Yoon Alliance, Confident but Inappropriate as Party Banner"

"Conservative and Progressive Liberals Will Join Together"

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok, who is preparing to establish a new party ahead of next year's general election, stated, "There are liberals in the conservative camp and liberals in the progressive camp, and people with such characteristics can work together."

On the 4th, Lee appeared on 'KBS Special 1 Radio Evening' and said, "I want to realize liberalism," adding, "So far, conservative parties have combined these two forces to contest elections, and they won when they did so."

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok is speaking at a press conference urging the prompt passage of the Marine Corps Chaesang-byeong Special Prosecutor Act within the year, held in front of the National Assembly main building on the 30th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

He continued, "If you look closely, someone like Representative Hwang Kyo-ahn only represents one side of conservatism," and pointed out, "At that time, the liberal forces were thoroughly ignored, so the election was fought with only half the forces."

Regarding former Democratic Party leader Song Young-gil's plan for an 'anti-Yoon (Yoon Seok-yeol) coalition' new party, he said, "An anti-Yoon coalition like that is unlikely to succeed, and it is inappropriate as a banner for running a party," adding, "Rather, it is necessary to explain what is better than President Yoon Seok-yeol. If it is an anti-Yoon coalition against President Yoon, it will become a competition over who attacks President Yoon most skillfully. I am confident I can do that well, but I am not very interested."

Lee also mentioned the possibility of forming or allying a new party with independent lawmaker Lee Sang-min, who recently left the Democratic Party, and former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon.

Regarding the 'love call' related to the new party formation, Lee said, "It is not a love call, but I contacted Representative Lee Sang-min today as well." He added, "I read his resignation statement carefully. I also found parts I strongly agree with," and said, "He is a five-term senior lawmaker, and rather than using such expressions, I contacted him as a political senior, considering that in terms of weight, I am not necessarily heavier than Representative Lee Sang-min."

About former leader Lee Nak-yeon, he said, "Depending on what kind of politics Lee Nak-yeon wants to pursue?whether he will continue the Moon Jae-in administration’s policies, having served as Prime Minister under Moon Jae-in, or whether he will act as an independent entity named Lee Nak-yeon?the direction could be very different," adding, "Once these things are better understood, I think it will be possible to consider political cooperation with Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon."

He added, "In fact, I think many people in Korean politics believe that the stage where conservatives are 100% right or progressives are 100% right has passed," and said, "If so, I think people hope that sensible individuals can come together. I intend to consider this within that framework."