Jeon Byungheon: "All-out effort to block Lee Jae-myung's administration... Will purge Lee after Yoon's dismissal"

At the First Anniversary Press Conference of the New Future Democratic Party

Jeon Byeong-heon, leader of the New Future Democratic Party, harshly criticized Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, saying that Lee's efforts for party unity are "essentially the first step to 'silencing dissent'."

Jeon Byung-heon, Representative of the New Future Democratic Party. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 13th, Jeon held a press conference marking the first anniversary of the New Future Democratic Party's founding at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, and claimed, "(Lee's unity efforts) hold no significance beyond ceremonial procedures. Unity is quite distant from Lee's leadership," he said.

Jeon advised that if former Gyeongnam Governor Kim Kyung-soo, considered a pro-Moon Jae-in faction successor, changes his stance after meeting with Lee and acts as a leader, it could be interpreted that he has decided to take a subordinate position as a mere ornament to Lee.

Kim, regarded as a successor of the pro-Moon (pro-Moon Jae-in) faction, recently raised the need to break the 'Lee Jae-myung one-pole system.' Lee met with Kim on the same day as the start of his party unity efforts, considering the possibility of an early presidential election.

Regarding this, Jeon emphasized, "If the Democratic Party confirms Lee as its presidential candidate, we will put all our efforts into forming a broad political coalition to oppose Lee Jae-myung and prevent his administration," adding, "After Yoon Seok-youl's dismissal, we will embark on another challenge to eliminate Lee Jae-myung."

He also mentioned the movement of 'Choilhoe,' a group mainly composed of non-Myeong faction members within the Democratic Party who lost or were not nominated in the general election. He likened it to "not even a 'storm in a teacup,' but merely a 'breeze in a teacup.'" He continued, "If they make a bold decision to shed the shell of the fake Democratic Party and come out, it would be very welcome, but if they plan something within, the possibility of merging with New Future is very low."

Regarding the possibility of former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, who is the party's standing advisor, running for president, Jeon said, "He has not yet definitively decided whether to run," and added, "Starting with the constitutional amendment debate in Gwangju on the 10th, he plans to travel extensively nationwide and hold political lectures for the time being."