'Party Leader Candidate' Lee Junseok: "I Will Make the Reform New Party a Party of Competence, Not Ideology"

"Preparing for a Decisive Battle with the People Despite an Unfavorable Landscape"

Lee Junseok, who is running unopposed in the Reform New Party's election for party leader, emphasized on the 13th, "I will make the Reform New Party a party of competence, not a party of ideology."

Reform New Party presidential candidate Lee Junseok arrived at the party's vote counting situation room set up in the National Assembly Yeouido Members' Office Building in Seoul after confirming the exit poll results announced by the three major broadcasters on the 3rd of last month and expressed his thoughts. Photo by Yonhap News

At the first online debate of the Reform New Party convention held at the National Assembly that afternoon, Lee stated, "We will compete not based on ideological camps, but on who is more capable and who has better solutions for future challenges such as the digital economy, artificial intelligence (AI), pension reform, and energy transition."

Lee said, "I believe the Reform New Party has become the only party to fundamentally challenge the outdated order of Korean politics," but added, "However, we still have much to do. We also lack the power to stop the dominance of the two major parties."

He continued, "Today, I boldly take on the challenge of leadership that will change the future of the party," and added, "Even in an unfavorable environment, we must prepare for a decisive battle together with the people. We will create a victory that is truly a win."

Lee explained, "I will not just call for generational change, but will build a structure where young politicians can actually challenge themselves and fight every day," and added, "We will digitize and make transparent all processes, including nominations, organization, and policy development."

He went on, "We are currently working to automate and systematize various functions within the party," and said, "We will innovate all operational structures on a digital basis, including supporter management, party member information messaging, schedule sharing, and policy discussions."

Lee stressed, "Once this work is completed, the Reform New Party will have a level of efficiency and agility incomparable to traditional parties," and added, "We will transform into a small but strong party, a party with fast response times, and a party that immediately responds to the voice of the people."

He also said, "I will give the people confidence that politics is a forum for solving problems, so that no one will say this country would be better off without politicians," and added, "We will move beyond politics that earns applause by criticizing opponents, and instead solve problems and open the future. I am confident I can create that path."

The Reform New Party plans to hold its party convention on the 27th to elect its leader and supreme council members. Lee is the sole candidate in the party leader election. Given his high support within the party, he is expected to be elected leader barring any surprises.