[AK Radio] Lee Jun-seok and Han Dong-hoon, Is a Generational Change Wind Blowing?

Lee Jun-seok Advocates for 'Generational and Structural Transformation' in Presidential Bid
Potential for Overlap with Han Dong-hoon's Political Moves

Lee Jun-seok, a member of the Reform New Party, officially declared his candidacy for the presidential election by prominently advocating the '40s generation theory.' Born in 1985, Lee will turn 40 next month, making him eligible to run for president. At a press conference held on the 2nd at Hongdae Entrance, a place popular among young people, Lee expressed his determination to lead a political overhaul, stating, "South Korea must boldly undergo a generational and structural transformation."

Yonhap News

The '40s generation theory' was first introduced in November 1969 when former President Kim Young-sam announced his candidacy for the New Democratic Party's presidential primary. At that time, Yu Jin-oh, the party leader of the opposition New Democratic Party, was in his early 50s and bedridden, compared to President Park Chung-hee. The deaths of Haegong Shin Ik-hee during a campaign in 1956 and candidate Cho Byung-ok in a U.S. hospital in 1960 had left a traumatic legacy, which led to the opposition's call for a younger candidate.

In response, politicians in their 40s such as Kim Young-sam (41), Kim Dae-jung (45), and Lee Cheol-seung (48) united to promote the '40s generation theory.' As a result, in the 1971 presidential election, candidate Kim Dae-jung narrowly lost to Park Chung-hee by 950,000 votes, marking a significant achievement.

Lee strongly criticized the political establishment and emphasized the need for generational change. He described both conservatives and progressives as having lost their values, labeling the existing political sphere as 'old politics.' He referred to election fraud, judicial noncompliance, and politicians' immunity as 'politicking,' indirectly criticizing President Yoon Suk-yeol and party leader Lee Jae-myung.

He presented three core tasks for South Korea to overcome its crisis: breaking through hierarchical ranking, minimizing regulations, and focusing investment on education. Citing examples of overseas leaders in their 40s such as John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Tony Blair, and Barack Obama, he argued that the emergence of young leaders is possible in Korea as well. Lee likened himself to a 'first penguin,' expressing his willingness to take bold challenges despite the risk of orcas waiting in the cold sea. When asked about the possibility of unification, he firmly stated, "I will go all the way."

Lee's presidential candidacy announcement coincides with a political event. Next month, a documentary film titled 'Johnstone Year One,' featuring him as the main character, is set to be released. Additionally, he plans to open a campaign office near Gangnam Station soon and is reportedly organizing a special advisory group, indicating that he has already established a somewhat organized structure for the presidential race.

Yonhap News

Meanwhile, close associates of Han Dong-hoon, former leader of the People Power Party born in 1973, have announced their intention to discuss the future of conservatism through a YouTube channel called 'Under 73 Studio.' This movement among young politicians in their 40s and 50s is drawing attention to how it might influence the presidential race if an early election becomes a reality. Especially since the average age of the 22nd National Assembly members is 56.3 years, the highest ever, there is keen interest in the impact of this generational shift. Notably, Shin Ji-ho, former deputy head of strategy planning for the People Power Party and a close aide to Han, appeared on Channel A's 'Political Signal,' stating, "If an early presidential election occurs and the generational change flow that Lee Jun-seok envisions also appears within the People Power Party, there is nothing preventing us from forming an alliance."

Lee's presidential candidacy announcement could serve as a new variable demonstrating the dynamism of Korean politics. Korean politics is characterized by its dynamic nature, where unexpected changes can occur at any time. Particularly, if the movements of the 2030 generation and the moderate middle ground align with the '40s generation theory' and the call for generational change that he proposes, it could bring meaningful change to the political sphere. It will also be a point of interest to observe what kind of relationship he establishes with former leader Han Dong-hoon, who is expected to return to the political forefront soon.