Lee Junseok: "No Reason to Join Insurrection Forces... Lee Jae Myung Is the 'Crisis Force'"

Lee Junseok: "No Reason to Join Forces with the Insurrectionists Who Staged Martial Law After 40 Years"
Lee Jaemyung: "The People Must Choose Between the Insurrectionists and Those Who Defend the Constitution"

Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party, held a focused campaign rally in Gwangju on the 19th. Reform New Party

Lee Junseok, the presidential candidate of the Reform New Party, dismissed Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate's prediction that a unified conservative front would eventually be formed, stating, "There is no reason to join forces with the forces of insurrection."

On May 23, Lee Junseok refuted Lee Jae Myung's claim via Facebook, saying, "There is no reason to join forces with the forces of insurrection who staged martial law for the first time in 40 years."

He continued, "The forces of crisis, who are plotting reckless giveaways that could trigger an IMF-like crisis for the first time in 30 years, should be called out." He criticized, "The Lee Jae Myung crisis forces, who are salivating over 100 trillion won without being able to properly explain how they would use it, are once again making empty promises today. I wonder how they will try to slip away like eels this time."

Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is appealing for support at a campaign rally held at Gyeyang Station Square in Incheon on the 21st. Photo by Kim Hyun Min

This is seen as Lee Junseok drawing a clear line in response to Lee Jae Myung's remarks earlier that day, after visiting the grave of former President Roh Moo Hyun in Bongha Village, Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province. Lee Jae Myung told reporters, "I predict that Lee Junseok will eventually move toward unification with the forces of insurrection," and added, "The people must choose between the forces of insurrection and those who defend the constitution."

Meanwhile, Lee Junseok made it clear at an emergency press conference the previous day that there would be no unification, and that both the Reform New Party and his own name would appear on the ballot. However, since unification is technically possible until the day before the early voting period (May 28, with early voting from May 29 to 30), it is expected that the People Power Party will continue to reach out to him.

An Cheol Soo, co-chairman of the People Power Party's election committee, also wrote on his Facebook page that day, "The timing (of unification) is more important than anything else," and emphasized, "There is not much time left. Unification must be achieved before early voting in order to have a real effect," urging for unification before early voting begins.