Lee Junseok Elected as New Leader of Reform New Party: "My Heart Beats with a Spirit of Challenge"

Lee Junseok Elected as Sole Candidate with Overwhelming 98.22% Approval
Kim Seongyeol, Joo Isaac, and Kim Jeongcheol Chosen as Supreme Council Members

In the recent election for the new leader of the Reform New Party, Representative Lee Junseok was elected on July 27. Ahead of next year's local elections, the newly elected leader Lee stated, "We will continue to take on challenges that other parties cannot."

The Reform New Party held its 2nd National Convention at the National Assembly Members' Office Building this afternoon, where they elected the party leader and Supreme Council members. Representative Lee, who ran unopposed for the party leader position, received 25,254 votes in the approval vote and was easily elected with an approval rate of 98.22%.

Lee Junseok, who ran unopposed in the Reform New Party leadership election, is seen ascending the stage after being confirmed as the party leader at the Reform New Party's 2nd National Convention held on the 27th in the main conference hall of the National Assembly Members' Office Building. Photo by Yonhap News

Immediately after his election, Lee said, "I am grateful and honored to have the opportunity to serve the party and the Republic of Korea," adding, "Standing at this new starting line, I feel as if I am facing a massive mountain range. While I feel fear at its steepness, my heart beats with the spirit and passion to reach the summit."

Lee emphasized, "We must be wary of populism that is immediately visible and seek and choose the true path of change," and continued, "Even if we walk a difficult path, we must show the people a future they can trust. To do this, we must draw out our internal inertia and contradictions and fill ourselves with new passion."

Lee pointed out that the Reform New Party is in a disadvantaged position compared to the two major parties, stating, "The leadership will make more strategic and resolute decisions than ever before," and explained, "Just as Admiral Yi Sunshin blocked the sea with only 13 ships, bold decisions will also be necessary."

He continued, "To prevent distortion caused by ghost party members and organized sign-ups, we will suspend offline party membership recruitment and recruit members exclusively online based on mandatory identity verification," adding, "For the positions of city and provincial party chairs and local party chapter chairs, if a certain number of members is met in each region, we will implement a 100% direct election system."

Regarding next year's local elections, he said, "It will be another crucial hurdle for us," and emphasized, "We will gather talented individuals and ensure that they can enter politics without fear."

He also stated, "For the local elections, all candidate applications will be accepted 100% online, so there will be no need to come to the Yeouido city and provincial party offices," and added, "If necessary, interviews will also be conducted via video call so that even those busy with their livelihoods can participate in politics without being disadvantaged in the nomination and election process."

Lee was first elected as the inaugural party leader when the Reform New Party was founded in January last year. In May of the same year, former lawmaker Heo Eun-ah succeeded him as party leader, but after internal strife, she resigned this past February, and since then, floor leader Chun Haram has served as acting leader.

In the Supreme Council member election, where seven candidates ran, Kim Seongyeol, Joo Isaac, and Kim Jeongcheol were elected based on the combined results of party member votes and public opinion polls.