Lee Jun-seok "If I had to choose among Oh Se-hoon, Hong Joon-pyo, Ahn Cheol-soo, and Han Dong-hoon, I would pick Ahn and Yonsei"

"Anman is future-oriented... Will apologize for past matters if we join hands"

Reform New Party lawmaker Lee Jun-seok stated that if he were to form an alliance with one of the conservative presidential candidates, he would join hands with People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo. He strongly denied the possibility of an alliance with the People Power Party.

On the 31st, during TV Chosun's YouTube channel 'Ryu Byung-soo's Strong Punch,' when asked by the host, "If you were to form an alliance with one person among Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, former leader Han Dong-hoon, and lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, who would it be?" Lee said, "It would be lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo. I think he is the most valuable candidate in the current situation."

He explained the reason by saying, "Ahn Cheol-soo has not engaged in the kind of legalist politics that divides good and evil while in politics so far," adding, "Instead, he has talked a lot about the future."

Lee Jun-seok, Member of the Reform New Party. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Lee pointed out, "Most politicians currently in the market are from legal backgrounds," and said, "Since the public has seen the limitations of legalist politics, we need to move beyond that." Although Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon have softened their political colors after long administrative careers, their starting point as legal professionals means they are likely to view the world similarly to President Yoon Seok-youl and other politicians from legal backgrounds.

Regarding former leader Han Dong-hoon, he said, "The next presidential election is an impeachment election, and Han is the crown prince of the Yoon Seok-youl administration," adding, "He served twice as party leader starting from Minister of Justice without any achievements, and the public has clearly judged prosecutorial politics."

When the host reminded him of his past antagonistic relationship with lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, likening them to 'Tom and Jerry,' and asked, "Aren't you at odds with Ahn Cheol-soo?" Lee responded, "The quarrels and the fact that Ahn Cheol-soo tried not to give me the Bareunmirae Party nomination are things of the past now." He continued, "If we need to join hands to create a new political landscape, I would be the first to approach lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, apologize for any wrongdoings over the past few years, and start anew."

Lee made it clear that there would be no party-to-party alliance with the People Power Party. He said that if an early presidential election is held after March 31 next year, "I will run as the Reform New Party candidate," adding, "The People Power Party is going too far and is moving in a direction different from what the people want."