Lee Junseok: "We Must Secure as Many Victories as Possible in Next Year's Local Elections... Will Bring Change"

Reform New Party Candidate Vision Presentation
Lee Junseok: "Lee Jaemyung Administration, a New Kind of Crisis"

Lee Junseok, who is running unopposed in the Reform New Party leadership election, emphasized on the 18th, "The way to repay the support of the countless party members and supporters who have worked hard since the party's founding is to secure as many victories as possible in the upcoming local elections, thereby opening up opportunities for real political participation."

On the 13th, Lee Junseok attended the first debate for the Reform New Party Supreme Council candidates held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

At the candidate vision presentation held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building that afternoon, Lee stated, "We need to establish a foothold to realize our ideas, starting with local councils and heads of local governments," and added, "If I become party leader, I will focus on this area and create change through communication with party members."

Lee pointed out, "It has been over a month since the Lee Jaemyung administration was launched, and during this time, I feel that we have already had a preview of the next five years," adding, "This is a crisis of a different dimension from the one we experienced under the Yoon Sukyeol administration."

He continued, "When I meet with people from the industrial sector, I see that our industries are facing unprecedented difficulties and are fighting to overcome them," and explained, "If we fail to resolve these industrial issues and focus only on short-term measures like economic stimulus, the future will remain uncertain."

He also said, "Unlike the high approval ratings and somewhat elevated expectations the Lee Jaemyung administration is currently enjoying in its early days, we may have to prepare for a 'perfect storm'?a complex economic crisis," citing mass unemployment caused by advances in artificial intelligence (AI) as an example.

Lee warned, "If the state does not help individuals prepare for these challenges in advance, we could end up in a situation where, just like during the Sewol ferry disaster?a tragedy we never want to remember again?the authorities irresponsibly tell the people to 'stay put.'"

He further stated, "With the pessimistic outlook that the maximum (tariff) concessions we can achieve through negotiations with the United States by August will be around 17 to 18 percent, we may be witnessing the demise of many of our industries," and emphasized, "In this process, how clearly and innovatively the Reform New Party presents its discourse will become an opportunity."

The Reform New Party will hold a national convention on the 27th to elect new leadership. As Lee is the sole candidate for party leader, a vote for or against his candidacy will be held.