Kim Yongtae: "Junseok Lee, Please Present Conditions for Unification"
Unification Deadline D-3... People Power Party's Desperate Appeal
Junseok Lee: "Will I Be Ostracized If I Don't Unify?... Old-Fashioned Authoritarianism"
With just three days remaining until early voting for the 21st presidential election, the potential unification of Kim Munsu and Junseok Lee has emerged as the most significant issue in the political landscape. Although time is running short, the unpredictable nature of politics means that a last-minute dramatic unification cannot be ruled out. The People Power Party has effectively offered a blank check to the Reform New Party, urging them to present the preconditions for unification and launching an all-out effort to achieve it.
Reform New Party presidential candidate Junseok Lee is campaigning on the street near Seosunra-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 25th. Photo by Yonhap News
Kim Munsu, the People Power Party’s presidential candidate, is staking everything on the possibility of unification. Recognizing that it would be difficult to defeat Democratic Party candidate Lee Jaemyung with his own approval ratings alone, Kim is seeking to create a turning point through a unification strategy. The conditions for unification are in place. According to a Realmeter poll commissioned by Energy Economy News on the 22nd and 23rd, when 1,009 eligible voters were surveyed, the combined approval ratings of Kim Munsu (37.6%) and Junseok Lee (10.4%) surpassed that of Lee Jaemyung (46.6%).
Kim Yongtae, the People Power Party’s Emergency Response Committee Chair, increased the pressure during a meeting with reporters at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, stating, “We propose that the Reform New Party present the preconditions for unification.” This move appears to be a response to the lack of change in Lee’s position, despite the People Power Party’s recent proposal for a coalition government and rumors in some circles about offering the prime ministership or party leadership. Kim emphasized, “We will do everything possible to achieve unification,” and added, “We are genuinely prepared to accept the Reform New Party’s policies for the 20s and 30s generations.”
The decision ultimately rests with Junseok Lee. From his perspective, seeing the presidential race through to the end may not be a bad option. If he secures more than 10% of the vote in this election, he can achieve both partial reimbursement of campaign expenses and the accumulation of political capital. His influence in the conservative camp’s reorganization could also grow. For Junseok Lee, this presents an opportunity to increase his political value without having to take on the risks associated with unification.
The issue, however, is that responsibility for failing to prevent a Lee Jaemyung administration could fall on Lee. In the previous presidential election, Sim Sangjung, the former Justice Party candidate, completed her run without unification, and after Lee Jaemyung lost to Yoon Sukyeol by just 0.73 percentage points, she experienced a political decline. If, in this election, the gap between Lee Jaemyung and Kim Munsu is smaller than Junseok Lee’s share of support, blame could spread that “we lost because of Junseok Lee.”
People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Munsu is holding a focused campaign rally on the 25th at Daecheon Station Square in Boryeong, Chungnam. Photo by Yonhap News
A People Power Party official said, “If Junseok Lee is aiming for the next presidency, he will inevitably have to return to the People Power Party. The Reform New Party will never succeed.” The official added, “Unification in this presidential election would be the best justification for his natural return.” The official also stated, “If Kim publicly discloses details of proposals such as a coalition government, there will be no room for different claims after the election.”
However, Junseok Lee reiterated his opposition to unification at a debate hosted by the Korea Broadcasting Journalists Club at the Korea Broadcasting Hall in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, saying, “These days, I often hear threats like, ‘If you don’t unify, we’ll blame you for the loss,’ or ‘We’ll bury you in the political world.’” He continued, “We fought against such coercion and old-fashioned authoritarianism in that party and created a new one. I cannot make a decision that would deny my original intentions.”
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