Lee Nak-yeon "New Future aims for at least 30 seats... Gwangju prioritized if running"

Lee "Will Exclude Extremes and Create a True Democratic Party"
Refrains from Commenting on Reform New Party Breakdown
Appoints Jo Gisuk as Public Relations Chair and Kim Manheum as Policy Chair

Lee Nak-yeon, co-representative of Saeroun Mirae, said on the 21st, regarding the number of seats in the general election, "We are aiming for at least 30 seats."

After the 4th Responsibility Committee meeting held at the Saeroun Mirae party headquarters in Yeouido that morning, Lee said, "President Kim Dae-jung founded the National Congress in 1995 with the intention of creating a party for the middle class and common people, excluding the reactionary Cold War forces and extreme reform forces. We share a similar idea," he stated.

Regarding the differentiated point of Saeroun Mirae, he emphasized, "It can be summarized as a 'real Democratic Party' that prioritizes the nation over factions, and confirms and restores the lost spirit, values, and dignity of the Democratic Party."

On his own candidacy for the general election, he said, "I have said that if I run, I will prioritize Gwangju," but added, "I have not decided whether to run. Among the public and supporters, there are those who encourage me to run and those who advise against it. I am reflecting on their wishes and considering it," avoiding a definitive answer.

Lee Nak-yeon, speaking
(Seoul=Yonhap News) Han Jong-chan reporter = Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the New Future, is speaking at the Responsibility Committee meeting held at the New Future party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul on the morning of the 21st. 2024.2.21
saba@yna.co.kr
(End)


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Meanwhile, Saeroun Mirae refrained from commenting on the breakdown of the merger with the Reform New Party the previous day and instead focused on criticizing the recent 'unfair nominations' by the Democratic Party.

Co-representative Kim Jong-min said, "If the general election proceeds normally, this election should undoubtedly be one to judge the Yoon Seok-yeol administration," adding, "The opposition party aiming to judge the administration should secure an overwhelming majority, and based solely on public sentiment, it should be an election where even up to 200 seats are possible."

He continued, "The support rate for the Democratic Party, the main opposition party, has been overtaken by the People Power Party even in ARS polls," and said, "Many people who expected to judge the Yoon Seok-yeol administration are quite bewildered by how rapidly the situation has changed."

Kim pointed out, "Colleagues trusted by the public and party members are being instantly labeled as dropouts, leading to phrases like 'dying in agony, benefiting the pro-Moon faction,'" and criticized, "Such ruthless, disgraceful nominations and factional politics are unprecedented in the history of political parties in the Republic of Korea."

On this day, Saeroun Mirae appointed former Blue House Public Relations Secretary Cho Ki-sook as the Nomination Management Committee Chair and Kim Man-heum, former head of the National Assembly Legislative Research Office and current distinguished professor at Hansung University, as the Policy Committee Chair. Professor Cho Ki-sook of Ewha Womans University participated in the founding of the Uri Party and is a pro-Roh (pro-Roh Moo-hyun) figure who served as Public Relations Secretary during the Roh Moo-hyun administration.