Lee Nak-yeon "Willing to Talk if Leadership Changes... Will Give Democratic Party Time Until Year-End"

"Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun's Democratic Party Collapsed... Toward a One-Person Party"

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, who expressed disappointment over the meeting between Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum and indicated his intention to continue the process of founding a new party, stated that he is willing to engage in dialogue if the party leadership changes and said he would give time until the end of the year.

On the 21st, Lee appeared on YTN's 'News King Park Ji-hoon' and said, "My statement that I will give the Democratic Party time until the end of the year remains valid."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee’s side, regarding the meeting between Lee Jae-myung and former Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum the previous day, suggested through a notice, "(The outcome of the meeting) is disappointing. I will continue the work I have been doing," implying that the process of founding a new party will continue.

Lee explained the reason for posting the notice the day before, saying, "Since Kim and I have met and talked, I understand his feelings and urgent thoughts, but despite that, nothing tangible has come out of it," and added, "That is why I said it was disappointing, and since there is nothing, practical work must continue."

However, he also said that the possibility of dialogue remains open if there is change within the party. When asked by the host, "What kind of change would make you stay in the Democratic Party?" he replied, "I have publicly stated before that I sympathize with the sincerity behind the idea of a unified emergency committee, and I will substitute that statement here," adding, "If the emergency committee means the resignation of the party leader and a change in the leadership, I am willing to engage in dialogue."

When asked by the host, "How about Lee stepping back to a secondary position and running the election together?" he said, "In last year’s local elections, the Democratic Party had more members of the National Assembly than now, much more. However, the result was a crushing defeat," and added, "Since then, the thoughts of the moderate and independent voters have worsened significantly. Given that, would going with such a model lead to success?"

He emphasized that simply changing the party’s banner is not enough. When asked by the host, "Is it right for Lee to step back significantly?" he said, "I will not comment on that in detail," adding, "Elections require showing the best possible state to the people, and even then, winning is uncertain. If they stubbornly say, ‘We will go as is,’ what can I say?"

He said, "The Democratic Party nurtured by Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun has been ruined," and "the party culture has never been so uniform. Although it was called a royalist presidency back then, it was not a one-man party. Isn’t it different now?" he targeted the leadership.

Regarding concerns within the Democratic Party that division caused by founding a new party might shake the theory of regime judgment, he said, "Has the Democratic Party properly held the government accountable during the year and a half since the Yoon Suk-yeol administration began? No, it has not," and added, "Then, if another side can provide the checks and balances that the Democratic Party cannot, supporting that would be in the Democratic Party’s interest."