Lee Jun-seok "Leaving People Power Party... Cannot Wait for an Unchanging Political Scene"

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok announced his resignation from the party on the 27th.

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok is holding a press conference announcing his withdrawal from the party at a restaurant in Nowon-gu, Seoul on the 27th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

On the afternoon of the same day, Lee stated at Mapo Charcoal Grilled Ribs restaurant located in Nowon-gu, Seoul, "Today, I am leaving the People Power Party. At the same time, I am giving up all the political assets I held within the People Power Party."

Lee expressed, "I am deeply grateful beyond words to the party members who elected me as their leader and who took the lead in winning the presidential and local elections from their respective positions," but added, "I cannot just wait any longer. More precisely, I cannot wait while watching a political arena in South Korea that does not change."

He continued, "Having experienced impeachment, I vowed never to tolerate a South Korea where there is an unofficial power behind the scenes but no vision," and said, "The repeated scenes of someone unelected wielding all tangible and intangible power, manipulating South Korea, and law and common sense being rendered powerless before that person, are traumas I never want to experience again."

Lee reflected, "I once again reflect on myself for failing to make the brief spring I visited in the conservative party eternal," and bowed his head, saying, "I confronted their lust for power with common sense but failed to suppress it. Everything is due to my shortcomings."

He then asserted, "Now, the official language of South Korea must be the future. South Korea must become a country where those who strive have a better tomorrow than today."

Lee stated, "Politics is an effort to improve the lives of the public," and appealed, "Now, I ask the citizens to stop heading to the Colosseum to enjoy the gladiator swordsmanship aimed at defeating opponents."

He emphasized, "The gladiator politics that turn opposing political forces into symbols of evil, villains, and place them in the Colosseum become like Wolryun (月輪), the full moon, while productive politics that talk about the future rise like Wolsin (月新), the waxing crescent moon."