Prime Minister's Presidential Jinx Is "Up to You... Jinxes Exist to Be Broken"
Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform New Party, stated that Hong Joon-pyo, mayor of Daegu, is a suitable candidate for the new Prime Minister, arguing that "if President Yoon Seok-yeol wants to create harmony within the conservative camp, he should start by giving a role to Mayor Hong, who was his biggest competitor during the presidential election."
On the 25th, during MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' Lee said, "There are rumors that the Prime Minister position was offered to Mayor Hong, and rumors that it was not," emphasizing, "A role befitting a presidential candidate-level figure should be given."
President Yoon Suk-yeol is conversing with Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu, at the 2023 National Members' Convention of the Barun Living Movement held at Daegu EXCO on November 7 last year. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Regarding the so-called 'Prime Minister presidential curse,' which states that no Prime Minister in Korean history has become President, Lee responded, "It depends on how you handle it." He added, "It may be a curse that no one who has served as Prime Minister, including Lee Nak-yeon, co-leader of the New Future Party, has reached the presidency, but curses exist to be broken. It is inappropriate to refuse such a significant role during a critical national crisis just because of fear of a curse."
He continued, "When former President Kim Young-sam appointed the stern Prime Minister Lee Hoi-chang, many people saw that Prime Minister Lee spoke his mind and offered candid criticism," evaluating, "That is what propelled him to become a presidential candidate twice." Lee predicted that "Although Prime Minister Lee ultimately did not become President after facing strong opponents like Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, the public always values a stern Prime Minister who speaks frankly," and forecasted that Mayor Hong would become a Prime Minister of such a resolute character.
When asked if the person Lee recommended might not be appointed considering his relationship with President Yoon, he replied, "Living that way is also a freedom." Lee explained, "When I speak to President Yoon or former People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon, I offer advice and suggestions publicly for the people, never mocking or hoping for failure. I present solutions optimized for the situation from the other party's perspective, but defensive people or those who distrust the world tend to go in the opposite direction."
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