Lee Jun-seok "Will Not Run in Next Party Convention... Focused on Preparing for Local Elections"

Next Month Reform New Party National Convention to Be Held

Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the Reform New Party who was elected in the April 10 general election in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, declared that he will not take on the role of party leader in the next term.

On the 13th, Lee sent an email to party members stating, "I will not run in the upcoming party convention," and added, "I intend to focus on discovering new talents and establishing election strategies in preparation for the upcoming local elections." The Reform New Party plans to hold a party convention next month to elect its leadership before the opening of the 22nd National Assembly.

He explained, "According to our party's constitution and regulations, a party convention must be held within 60 days after the general election to form a new leadership," and added, "Since this is the first party convention held after various factions such as Korean Hope, Principle and Common Sense, and New Choice united to form the party, it is a convention where we must create more diversity of opinions than ever before."

Lee emphasized, "The process of preparing for the local elections, which are two years away, will be as harsh as the past few months we have gone through," and said, "I will do everything I can on that path to achieve results."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the results of this general election, in which the party secured one constituency seat and two proportional representation seats, Lee evaluated, "Despite various twists and turns over a period of just over three months, we produced both constituency and proportional representation winners, achieving our intended results."

He continued, "I apologize that many candidates who ran representing our party were not elected, as I, as party leader, was not able to devote more effort to party affairs and election support," and said, "The courage and achievements of the party members who contributed to the party in this election will never be forgotten as our party's history unfolds."

Lee promised, "I will schedule a time soon to personally thank our candidates and party members who worked hard campaigning across the country as the party leader," and added, "I will work to reorganize the local organizations."