Lee Jun-seok "Regret Oh Se-hoon's Non-Candidacy... Will Respond by Embracing the Spirit of the Times"

Lee Recalls the 2021 Seoul Mayoral By-election

Lee Jun-seok, a lawmaker from the Reform New Party, said on the 12th that he was "very disappointed" by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's declaration that he would not run in the early June 3 presidential election, adding, "I will fully embody the spirit of the times emphasized by Mayor Oh and repay it."

On the same day, Lee began his Facebook post by saying, "While greeting people in Daegu, I heard the news of Mayor Oh's difficult decision. It is very disappointing."

Lee Jun-seok, member of the Reform New Party

Earlier that day, Mayor Oh held a press conference at the People Power Party headquarters and declared that he would not run in the early presidential election, saying, "If the people are to give conservatives another chance to take charge of the government, a responsible person's decision is urgently needed." He added, "If the people sincerely feel that 'conservatism has been reborn and can be expected,' I have resolved to willingly step aside and open the path to victory, even if only slightly. I will serve as the primer for normalizing the abnormal."

Lee said, "In 2021, when the conservative camp was at its most difficult time, I achieved victory in the Seoul mayoral by-election together with the mayor," adding, "The direction we proposed together at that time was clear: 'Let's open a playground where the younger generation can freely play in the conservative space.'" He continued, "Not just in words, but the mayor practiced it himself," recalling, "Even when I presented incomplete ideas, he quietly supported and firmly backed me. When I made mistakes and felt discouraged, his kind encouragement was a new starting point for conservatism for me."

He concluded, "Now, I will return to that desperate initial mindset and fully embody the spirit of the times emphasized by the mayor?'regrowth' and 'walking with the weak'?on the stage of the early presidential election to repay it."

Reform New Party presidential pre-candidate Lee Jun-seok is painting the interior wall of the candidate's election office in orange on the 10th in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Provided by Lee Jun-seok Camp, Yonhap News.

Meanwhile, Lee, who officially declared his candidacy for the presidential election, opened his campaign office near Gangnam Station in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 10th, and launched his election campaign committee on the 11th, marking the start of his full-scale election preparations. At the campaign office opening ceremony, he personally painted the walls with the party's symbolic orange paint, emphasizing, "Starting from painting, I will build the foundation step by step," and stressed, "In this presidential election, I will pursue politics that sets things right from the root."

Notably, Lee attracted attention by opening his campaign office near Gangnam Station instead of Yeouido or Gwanghwamun. Regarding this, he explained, "Until now, presidential campaign offices have often been located in Gwanghwamun or Yeouido, but without relying on political culture or geomancy, I chose to open the campaign office in the Gangnam Station area, which is overflowing with the younger generation."