Regarding Lee Nak-yeon's New Party Rumors... Lim Jong-seok: "Only Integration and Solidarity Are the Answer"

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon has been making remarks targeting the current Lee Jae-myung leadership, raising speculation about the possibility of a 'Lee Nak-yeon new party,' while former Blue House Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok raised his voice, saying "Only unity and solidarity are the answer" and that division must be avoided.

On the 6th, Im posted on his social media (SNS), "I cannot imagine a general election without Representative Lee, but I ask you to seriously accept that this is a grave situation where we cannot win the general election with Representative Lee alone," he said.

Im Jong-seok, Chief of Staff at the Blue House, attended the full meeting of the Steering Committee held at the National Assembly on the 31st and responded to questions from lawmakers. This Steering Committee was convened for a briefing on the current issues regarding the Blue House Special Inspection Team allegations. It is the first time in 12 years since Jeon Hae-cheol, the Senior Secretary for Civil Affairs, appeared before the National Assembly Steering Committee in August 2006. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

He said, "Only unity and solidarity are the answer. Please gather all available resources inside and outside the party with utmost effort to establish a full-scale general election system," adding, "I earnestly ask to reach out to and request help from everyone within the party who holds differing opinions such as 'principles and common sense,' including former Representative Lee, and to invite those people to the front seats first."

Regarding former Representative Lee, he said, "Under no circumstances should you turn your back on the Democratic Party. Please remember that former Representative Lee's life is the history of the Democratic Party itself," and added, "I firmly assert that division is certain defeat."

He also addressed the party leadership, saying, "We must no longer tolerate open confrontations and divisions within the party based on pro-Lee Jae-myung (친명) and anti-Lee Jae-myung (비명) factions, or factions and personal relationships," and emphasized, "Especially, excessive intimidation and humiliation within the party destroy intra-party democracy and shake the foundation of a democratic party. The party leadership must firmly break away from such behavior."