"Build a Strong House" vs "Burn the Boat You Came On"... Lee Jun-seok's Return to People Power Party Rumors Stir Controversy

Jo Hae-jin Urged Lawmaker Lee Jun-seok to Rejoin
Heo Eun-ah Draws the Line on Jo Hae-jin's Remarks

Former People Power Party (PPP) lawmaker Cho Hae-jin proposed that Reform New Party lawmaker Lee Jun-seok rejoin the PPP, but Reform New Party leader Heo Eun-ah drew a line, saying, "If you have crossed the river, you must burn the boat you came on." On the 22nd, Heo stated this during MBC Radio's 'Kwon Soon-pyo's News High Kick' in the afternoon, saying, "We are currently working hard to build a strong house, and that is what we are doing."

Earlier, on the 7th, former lawmaker Cho encouraged Lee to return to the PPP, saying that the current PPP under the Han Dong-hoon administration is the best time to come back. Cho wrote on his Facebook, "Lee Jun-seok and the Reform New Party are losing their identity if they remain stuck under the name of the pan-opposition," adding, "Now that the PPP is making a fresh start under the Han Dong-hoon administration, it is an opportunity to restore the coalition for winning the presidential election."

Lee became the leader of the main opposition party, the PPP, in June 2021 and led the party during the 20th presidential election, helping President Yoon Seok-youl win. He also led the party during the June local elections. However, Lee eventually stepped down as party leader and left the party to found the Reform New Party after conflicts with the presidential office and pro-Yoon factions. Heo criticized, saying, "Even if we live as tenants, we want to build our own house," and added, "It does not seem respectful to the second-term leadership."

Heo Eun-ah, leader of the Reform New Party, and the leadership held an on-site supreme council meeting at Gwangju City Council on the morning of the 22nd, followed by a press conference.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

After founding the party, Lee led the Reform New Party as party leader through the 22nd general election and subsequent party conventions that established the second-term leadership. Heo said it is not respectful to the Reform New Party. She added, "Even if we consider a boa constrictor M&A (merger and acquisition), it is difficult for us to work together," and said, "We will just do the M&A ourselves. If we build a strong house, the PPP side can live as tenants."

She commented on the feasibility of the plan, saying, "Looking at the current atmosphere, it seems it will happen faster than our goal," and added, "I think we should not reveal our strategy, so I can only say that we are building a strong house."