Ryu Ho-jeong: "It Was Not the Mainstream... Will Exercise Restraint in Conflict and Adopt an Attitude of Coexistence"

Lee Jun-seok's Statement "Low Possibility of Becoming Party Mainstream"

Ryu Ho-jeong "Never Been Mainstream"
"Supporters of Lee Jun-seok Probably Needed Time to Explain"

Former lawmaker Ryu Ho-jeong and Lee Jun-seok, co-representative of the Reform New Party (Photo by Yonhap News)

Former lawmaker Ryu Ho-jeong, who left the Justice Party to join New Choice, stated on the 14th that she would "exercise restraint in sharp conflicts and adopt an attitude of coexistence." This was in response to Lee Jun-seok, co-representative of the Reform New Party, targeting Ryu by saying that "(gender-related) claims are unlikely to become mainstream within the party."

On the same day, Ryu appeared on SBS Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show and commented on Lee Jun-seok's remarks, saying, "(The Reform New Party) was formed by combining heterogeneous groups, so there must have been a need to explain to each of their support bases, and (Lee Jun-seok's remarks) can be understood as coming from that context." After leaving the Justice Party, Ryu joined former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop's New Choice and then became part of the Reform New Party, which was formed by the merger of four third-party groups. Some supporters of Lee Jun-seok have been opposing Ryu by referring to her past feminist-related activities.

Ryu said, "I have never been part of the mainstream from the beginning," adding, "Now we need to find common ground." Regarding gender conflicts, she expressed a desire for more discussion and said that framing pro-American and Yeongnam region, anti-feminism as conservative, and the opposite as progressive, is not helpful.

Ryu Ho-jeong, a member of the Justice Party, is holding a press conference on leaving the party at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 15th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

When the host asked, "What will you do if feminist values are not included in the party's platform and policies?" Ryu responded, "Politics is not about being clear-cut for its own sake. It is done to help civil society, but the 21st National Assembly did not resolve gender conflicts." She added, "I have concerns about whether the value of gender equality has contributed as a politician not only to the happiness of the community and individuals but also to the worsening of gender conflicts." She continued, "The Reform New Party is a place where people who opposed the mainstream gathered, and we cherish the freedom to oppose. I agree that we should not demonize those who think differently."