Jo Eung-cheon: "'Not about Erasing Lee Nak-yeon'... There Was a Difference in Perception Regarding the General Election"

"Saeroun Mirae Side Unable to Decide on Candidacy Method"

Jo Eung-cheon, a Supreme Council member of the Reform New Party, pointed to differences in perception regarding the general election as the direct cause of the split between Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the New Future Party, and the Reform New Party. The Reform New Party had planned to start full-scale election activities after deciding on constituency candidacies, but discord arose during the New Future Party’s indecision on the candidacy method.

Lee Nak-yeon, co-representative of the Reform New Party, is holding a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on the 19th. From the right: Kim Jong-min, Cho Eung-cheon Supreme Council members, Lee Jun-seok, Lee Nak-yeon co-representatives, Yang Hyang-ja floor leader, Geum Tae-seop Supreme Council member. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 21st, Supreme Council member Jo appeared on YTN Radio's "News King with Park Ji-hoon" and said, "On the Reform New Party side, there were many people like me, Lee Won-wook, Yang Hyang-ja, and Geum Tae-seop who had already decided on constituencies and were working at the grassroots level, but there was no one like that on the New Future side." He added, "Those running in constituencies were at their wits’ end, and there was clearly a difference in the level of commitment regarding what the party was doing."

Regarding the controversy over 'erasing Lee Nak-yeon,' he explained, "It seems the criticism is that (Lee Jun-seok) asked for full authority over the election after agreeing to serve as the unified campaign committee chairman, which some interpret as 'erasing Lee Nak-yeon.' I told them to delegate this part because Lee Jun-seok had already demonstrated outstanding skills in the presidential and local elections."

He continued, "With only 50 days left until the general election, the party has not done anything substantial that it should have done before the election, such as messaging, policies, or recruiting personnel."

In response to criticism of 'Lee Jun-seok’s factionalization,' he said, "I am someone who left because I disliked Lee Jae-myung’s faction, and during President Park Geun-hye’s time, I kept pointing out the abnormal operation inside the Blue House and was eventually ousted. If there is even a little bit of factionalization, that is something I cannot tolerate," he rebutted.

Regarding rumors about recruiting former People Power Party emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in, he said, "There has been no official offer to help yet, and I only know that he said he wouldn’t do such things. Still, he showed excellent ability and charisma in grand policies, election direction, and personnel reform during the 20th and 21st general elections and the presidential election. If he comes to help, it would be a great strength."