Lee Seokhyun, senior advisor to the Sae Mirae Democratic Party and former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, announced his departure from the party on May 17.
On this day, Lee issued a statement declaring his intention to leave the party, saying, "I keenly feel that now is the time for all democratic forces to unite, overcoming minor differences, around Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, for the sake of peace on the Korean Peninsula and the recovery of people's livelihoods."
He said, "Watching Yoon Sukyeol's martial law and the recent actions of the ruling party, I am concerned that history could regress by decades. Even though it is late, with a mindset of returning to my roots, I wish to become a small drop in the river of democracy where I have spent 40 years, contributing to regime change and political innovation."
In December 2023, while serving as a senior advisor to the Democratic Party, Lee criticized the party led by candidate Lee Jaemyung as a "one-man party" and left. Afterwards, he founded the Sae Mirae Democratic Party together with former Prime Minister Lee Nakyon and others.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
