Lee Junseok: "If Han Donghoon Is a Skilled Politician, He Will Announce a New Party or an Independent Seoul Mayoral Run" [Current Affairs Show]

"Han Donghoon Has a Strong Desire for Honor but Lacks Ambition"
"Expelling Former Leader Han Donghoon by the People Power Party Ethics Committee Is Excessive"
"President Lee Jaemyung Will Appoint Lee Hyehun No Matter What"
"Yoon Seok-yeol Likely

■ Broadcast: The Asia Business Daily "Sosongseop's Current Affairs Show" (Mon-Fri, 4-5 p.m.)

■ Host: Sosongseop, Political Specialist ■ Director: Ma Yena, Producer

■ Guest: Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party (January 14)
※ When quoting content from this article, please be sure to cite "Sosongseop's Current Affairs Show."

Sosongseop: Hello, everyone. Welcome to Sosongseop's Current Affairs Show. Today, I will be discussing various issues with Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party. How have you been?

Lee Junseok: I've been well, thank you.

Sosongseop: You recently attended CES, right? I heard you’re going abroad again. Where to this time?

Lee Junseok: Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Joo Ho-young is visiting Mexico, Guatemala, and other countries, so I will be accompanying him on a seven-day itinerary. Although I am departing today, depending on the political situation, even though it is a diplomatic schedule, there is a possibility I may return early.
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Sosongseop: I see. Let’s start with this topic. Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok has requested the death penalty for former President Yoon Seok-yeol on charges of rebellion.

Lee Junseok: There’s no reason for them not to seek the death penalty. After all, this special prosecution was established by a specific political faction, and everyone knows that faction wants a harsh sentence. So, naturally, the expectation was either the death penalty or life imprisonment. Some anticipated life imprisonment, but in the end, the prosecution requested the death penalty.

Sosongseop: How do you evaluate the substance of the death penalty request?

Death Penalty Request, Former President Yoon Exposed His Own Disgrace

Lee Junseok: As revealed during this trial, it’s extremely disgraceful. In the past, even those who staged coups in our history stood trial, and they were people who seized power by mobilizing the military. Yet, even then, they did not show such disgraceful behavior in court. Legal arguments and interpretations were debated, but blaming those around you for not stopping you is shameful. I always knew he was that kind of person, and now he’s showing it himself without me needing to explain. It’s astonishing.

Sosongseop: Would you say he brought this upon himself?

Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, is appearing for an interview on The Asia Business Daily's "Sosongseop's Current Affairs Show" at 9 a.m. on the 14th.

Lee Junseok: It’s more than just reaping what he sowed. There’s talk that the People Power Party should apologize, but honestly, I’ve said for a long time that calls for “Jang Donghyuk should apologize” are meaningless. It’s a proxy apology. What’s the point of apologizing if former President Yoon Seok-yeol keeps making strange remarks and angering the public? An apology is only meaningful if President Yoon himself realizes his wrongdoing. Moreover, Representative Jang Donghyuk actually opposed the martial law and voted for its repeal, so his responsibility is not that great. If he apologizes on behalf of someone else, it makes his stance look odd. Instead, those within the People Power Party who failed to stop the president should apologize for not preventing his abuse of power or for being complicit or negligent. That would be more meaningful and appropriate at this point.

Sosongseop: Did you expect the special prosecution to request the death penalty?

Expected the Special Prosecution to Request Life Imprisonment

Lee Junseok: I thought life imprisonment was slightly more likely.

Sosongseop: Why is that?

Lee Junseok: Even so, the death penalty is a provocative element, and although the sentencing request is separate from the actual verdict, many people don’t understand the difference. There was concern that this shock could actually rally Yoon’s supporters.

Sosongseop: So you expected life imprisonment rather than the death penalty? Presiding Judge Ji Guyoun has announced that the verdict will be delivered at 3 p.m. on February 19. What is your prediction?

Former President Yoon Seok-yeol, who was indicted on charges of leading a rebellion related to the December 3 emergency martial law, appeared at the sentencing hearing held on the 13th in Criminal Courtroom 417 at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. The special prosecution requested the death penalty. Yonhap News

Lee Junseok: From what I’ve heard from legal professionals, opinions seem to be split around a 20-year sentence. Those with more experience tend to expect sentences above 20 years.

Sosongseop: Do you agree?

Judge Ji Guyoun Likely to Sentence to Over 20 Years

Lee Junseok: Based on the explanations I’ve heard, that seems reasonable. Former President Yoon was born in 1960, so he’s 67 now. Even a 20-year sentence would mean imprisonment until age 87, which is virtually a life sentence. Even as a lifelong legal professional, former President Yoon made desperate statements because he had no real defense.Even if he used all his knowledge as a prosecutor, if convicted, it’s either life imprisonment or the death penalty. That’s why he ended up making unreasonable comments like blaming those around him for not stopping him.

Sosongseop: The People Power Party’s Ethics Committee has expelled former leader Han Donghoon.

Lee Junseok: I predicted the expulsion about a week ago, but I didn’t say it publicly. There was no need to provoke people around Han Donghoon. However, I did mention to acquaintances that appointing former Namyangju Mayor Cho Gwanghan as a Supreme Council member and Assemblyman Jeong Jeom-sik as Policy Committee Chair was a move to prevent defections in case of a vote. Instead of appointing someone with little factional color to replace Assemblyman Kim Do-eup as Policy Committee Chair, they chose someone with clear stances because this situation was imminent. Although Assemblyman Jeong Jeom-sik is known for his character, he’s not a policy expert. This was a clear sign that they were preparing for something. In politics, it’s important to observe such indicators and signs.

Sosongseop: So you made that judgment based on those appointments. Han Donghoon’s side is expected to respond strongly. How do you foresee the situation for the People Power Party?

Lee Junseok: When I woke up this morning, this chaos had erupted, so I sent a message to someone close to Han Donghoon.

Sosongseop: What did you send?

If Han Donghoon Is a Skilled Politician, He Should Announce a New Party or an Independent Seoul Mayoral Run

Lee Junseok: If I were Han Donghoon and a skilled politician, I would do one of two things before noon today: announce the formation of a new party or declare an independent run for Seoul mayor. If I were less skilled, I would challenge the Ethics Committee’s decision through legal action. The unique aspect here is that for Han Donghoon to maintain political influence, he must either demonstrate his ability to form a new party or place himself at the center of the election by running for Seoul mayor as an independent. Forming a new party is more difficult, because it would mean fielding candidates and building a nationwide organization, which his side is not equipped to do. Running for Seoul mayor as an independent would be a game-changer. The People Power Party would demand a unified candidacy, which could put him in a stronger position.

Sosongseop: There’s much talk about taking legal action against the Ethics Committee’s decision.

Representative Lee Junseok criticized, saying, "The expulsion of former representative Han Donghoon is excessive."

Challenging the Ethics Committee’s Decision May Reveal More Facts

Lee Junseok: Here’s how to look at it. When I was disciplined by the Ethics Committee, I did not challenge the decision. Challenging the Ethics Committee is very risky. Unless there are clear procedural violations, such as not following procedures or denying the right to explain, the court is likely to respect the party’s autonomy. As a party member, Han Donghoon can only challenge the substance of the disciplinary action, but once you do that, it’s hard to change the outcome and more facts may be revealed.Who wrote what, from what IP address, everything must be disclosed. It becomes part of the record. As a legal professional, he knows how burdensome that is. He only posted a statement about defending democracy, but did not personally post in group chats with close associates. That suggests he may not be fully confident about some aspects of the facts. In my view, a political message should be released before noon.

Sosongseop: What is your opinion on the expulsion itself?

Even Based on the Ethics Committee’s Claims, Expulsion Is Excessive

Lee Junseok: Even if he used some harsh language, is that really grounds to end someone’s political career? Expulsion is excessive.

Sosongseop: Han Donghoon's side claims this is retaliation for supporting impeachment.

Lee Junseok: That response is similar to what Representative Cho Kuk said. “I’m being attacked by Yoon Seok-yeol because I wanted to reform the prosecution.” Why would there be retaliation against Han Donghoon over Yoon Seok-yeol’s martial law or the impeachment? That’s just self-importance. If anything, Han Donghoon was considered the crown prince of the Yoon administration for months, so what is there to retaliate for?

Sosongseop: Do you think Han Donghoon should apologize?

Lee Junseok: Given the situation, an apology is unnecessary; what’s most important is a political breakthrough. Regardless of how Han Donghoon takes it, I just speak the truth. President Yoon Seok-yeol was the same way in the past. Whenever I said something, he would always oppose it, thinking I was out to harm him. As a prosecutor, he’s used to dealing with criminals, so he’s naturally suspicious of testimonies, and I see similarities in that regard. Plus, as a Seoul National University law graduate, he probably thinks no one is smarter than him.

Sosongseop: What do you think of “Han Donghoon the person”?

Positive Assessment of Han Donghoon: Strong Desire for Honor, But Lacks Ambition

Lee Junseok: I have always evaluated him positively, and I still do. He has a strong desire for honor and a big ego, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, ambition must accompany that desire for honor. Ambition is something you must have in the field, and I think that needs to be strengthened. Having worked with Representative Yoo Seungmin for a long time, I know he also values honor and principles, but sometimes lacks ambition at critical moments. President Lee Jaemyung, on the other hand, doesn’t care much about honor but has tremendous ambition. I think that’s the key to his success. Interestingly, among Seoul National University graduates, many have strong desires for honor but lack corresponding ambition.

Sosongseop: Do you think Han Donghoon falls into that category?

Lee Junseok: Coincidentally, yes, to some extent.

Sosongseop: You met with Representative Jang Donghyuk. Was it for special prosecution cooperation?

Lee Junseok: I suggested it to both Cho Kuk and Jang Donghyuk online, and I sent messages to both of them, politely asking if we could discuss it after announcing it on Facebook. Representative Jang Donghyuk called me right away, but I missed the call because I was working, so I called him back immediately. He seemed very determined this time.

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party (right), and Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, are shaking hands at the National Assembly on the 13th. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Sosongseop: That was your impression?

Representative Jang Donghyuk Shows Great Determination Regarding the Special Prosecution

Lee Junseok: Representative Jang is frustrated not only by internal party turmoil but also by the constant stream of issues, such as the Kim Byungki case, where one controversy overshadows another. Since nothing is being resolved, he wants to fight back in a more organized way this time, and I agreed with that approach.

Sosongseop: Could it be that Representative Jang made such remarks because he felt the limits of his own abilities?

Lee Junseok: Here’s how I see it. He’s the leader of the main opposition party, so he must have a sense of responsibility. Many people have asked me if I should help raise Jang Donghyuk’s profile, but just as I advise Han Donghoon without personal motives, I’m not focusing on Representative Jang as an individual. I’m objectively assessing who is the right partner to cooperate with to achieve the special prosecution. At this point, it’s more important to identify who has the appropriate authority to cooperate on this issue, rather than focusing on individuals. The People Power Party member I get along with best is Mayor Oh Sehoon, but I can’t cooperate with him on the special prosecution.

Judging Who Is the Right Partner for Achieving the Special Prosecution, Not Just Jang Donghyuk as an Individual

Sosongseop: Representative Cho Kuk expressed a negative position, but do you plan to meet him separately?

Lee Junseok: I texted him to ask if I could call, but he didn’t reply. Instead, he just sent a screenshot of his party’s official statement. Assemblyman Shin Jang-sik sent me a message saying I was being rude, but I was very polite in my message. I was more surprised that Representative Cho Kuk just sent a screenshot in response. It seems he didn’t explain the situation clearly to his party members.

Sosongseop: If cooperation with the Cho Kuk Innovation Party is important for achieving the special prosecution, shouldn’t you put more effort into persuading Representative Cho Kuk?

Lee Junseok: That’s why we are politely asking him to reconsider. We are moving forward, but we always keep the door open for Representative Cho Kuk.

Sosongseop: Are you considering hunger strikes or shaving your head as part of efforts to achieve the special prosecution?

Not Afraid of Fasting, But Need to Build Up for Maximum Effect

Lee Junseok: I once did a 13-day fast. I’m not afraid of fasting, but I think there needs to be a build-up for political effect. Representative Jang Donghyuk seems eager for a strong struggle right now, which is understandable, but to make it convincing to the public, there needs to be a build-up. We should first have discussions among legal experts from both parties, for example.

Sosongseop: The Democratic Party plans to pass the comprehensive special prosecution bill on the 15th.

Lee Junseok: Since the Democratic Party came to power, we’ve seen so many new things. For one, it’s the first time the ruling party has demanded a special prosecution. The term “comprehensive special prosecution” is a contradiction in itself. “Comprehensive” means “general,” and “special prosecution” means “special,” so it’s “general special.” They’re investigating almost every major political issue in Korea under the so-called three major special prosecutions. The essence of the comprehensive special prosecution is that they want to create their own special investigation unit. They’re gathering all political cases under this comprehensive special prosecution, which is essentially the creation of a special unit. Why do they want to create a special unit when they used to say they hated them? It’s self-contradictory.

Sosongseop: What do you think about the People Power Party’s move to change its party name?

Lee Junseok: If they’re going to do it, now is the only time. You need lead time to promote and establish a new party name. They seem to be soliciting suggestions, but I wonder if the party name really matters. In the past, they changed from Saenuri Party to Liberty Korea Party, which sounded much more hardline conservative, but I don’t think it did them any good. If they change the name now, it’ll probably include “freedom” again. You need a sense for these things. If you go out on the street and say, “I’m right-wing, freedom,” you have to consider how you come across. But whenever I say things like this, people want to argue with me.

Sosongseop: What is your assessment of Lee Hyehun, the nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget?

President Lee Jaemyung Will Appoint Lee Hyehun No Matter What

Lee Junseok: President Lee Jaemyung must be deeply considering this. Many say he chose Lee Hyehun for political effect and for the sake of balance, and that’s part of it, but I see something else. When President Moon Jae-in was handing out money during the COVID-19 crisis, he later appointed Deputy Prime Minister Hong Namki, who tried to tighten spending. Hong Namki was reluctant to spend money, and now someone like that is needed. With the exchange rate rising, spending needs to be tightened, and although they talk about expansionary fiscal policy, spending must actually be reduced.

Sosongseop: So there’s a need for someone to play that internal role?

Lee Junseok: People from the Democratic Party or those closely tied to it often try to secure extra budget allocations during key budget discussions, so someone with weak ties to the Democratic Party is needed. Bureaucrats also have their own weaknesses. The administration probably faced constraints in finding someone who isn’t a bureaucrat but fits those criteria. Lee Hyehun is not known for being personable, and with recent audio recordings coming out, Democratic Party lawmakers will struggle when seeking budget allocations for their districts.

Lee Hyehun, nominee for Minister of Planning and Budget, is seen answering questions from reporters as he arrives at the hearing preparation office set up at the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 13th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Sosongseop: Will she pass the confirmation hearing? There have been many allegations.

Lee Junseok: Floor Leader Chun Haram is a member of the National Assembly’s Strategy and Finance Committee and seems to be receiving a lot of reports. Rather than reporting directly to the Democratic Party, people seem to be going through the Reform New Party. Some of the reports are valid, others not so much, but it’s up to Floor Leader Chun. From what I’ve heard, there are some things that could be problematic.

Sosongseop: Will President Lee Jaemyung appoint her?

Lee Junseok: Regardless of whether she passes the hearing, she will have a tough time, but I believe she will be appointed no matter what. That’s the intention, and Lee Hyehun probably accepted the nomination with that assurance.

Sosongseop: Let’s talk about the Reform New Party’s plans for the local elections. Recently, there was buzz about creating a system to run in the local elections for just 990,000 won.

Reform New Party Effectively Attempting Free Nominations in Local Elections

Lee Junseok: We don’t have much, so we have to use the media and other means for promotion. The 990,000 won is not money we keep; it’s the cost of producing campaign materials as a package. The nomination screening fee and special party dues are zero. So, in effect, our nominations are free. I’ve experienced nominations in both large and small parties, and in established parties, they collect hundreds of thousands or even up to 10 billion won in special party dues, making it feel like a business. We’ve eliminated all unnecessary costs.

Sosongseop: I hear the screening process is also online?

Lee Junseok: Screening committee members leave individual comments online, then meet to make decisions. This way, there are no costs involved. We’re also trying to conduct interviews via video call. For example, if someone is in Gangwon Province, they’d usually have to travel to Seoul or another city, losing a day or two and incurring expenses. For people with jobs or mothers raising children, this is a significant barrier to entering politics. We want to improve that, so we’re making new attempts.

As for banners, sometimes you see people putting up a lot of apartment sale banners. The unit cost is about 5,000 to 7,000 won. Under the election law, the reimbursement rate per banner is about 130,000 to 150,000 won. For the Reform New Party, I print banners in Dongtan and put them up myself using a ladder. It costs about 10,000 won per banner. Most politicians pay 100,000 to 150,000 won per banner, so our cost is about one-tenth.

Sosongseop: You said you would recruit 4,000 politicians in 100 days. Do you think it’s possible?

Expecting Applications from Young People and Women with Career Gaps

Lee Junseok: I think we’ve already recruited 200 to 300 people. The election hasn’t even started yet, but if the Reform New Party proves this is possible, I expect many capable young people and women with career gaps to join. Look at politics so far. In cases like Kang Sunwoo and Kim Kyung, it’s been too tough for capable women to enter. They have to serve as aides to lawmakers’ wives, pay money, and deal with people with bad tempers. The Reform New Party doesn’t have any of that, and people will eventually realize how important that is. It’s a non-authoritarian environment where anyone with ability can challenge themselves, whether they’re students or young professionals. There’s a secret about local elections.

Sosongseop: The secret of local elections? What is it?

Local Elections Are Easiest for People in Their Early 20s

Lee Junseok: It’s actually easiest for people in their early 20s to run. Why? Because they still live in their hometowns with their friends. When young people ask if they should run for district or city council, I ask, “Did you go to high school in your current neighborhood?” If so, many of their friends still live there, and just getting good feedback from those friends and their families gets you 2,000 to 3,000 votes. The threshold for election as a district council member is about 6,000 votes. Rebuilding your network with those friends is much easier. For people in their 50s, their friends are gone. If they run a local business, their network is business contacts; if they work for a company, they don’t know their neighborhood. In contrast, people in their early 20s, where school and regional ties still exist, have a big advantage.

Sosongseop: Lastly, will you nominate candidates for metropolitan mayors?

Lee Junseok: We already have candidates for Sejong, Daejeon, Chungnam, Seoul, Incheon, and Busan. We’ll probably have one in Daegu as well.

Sosongseop: Will you go all the way? There’s talk of cooperation or alliance with the People Power Party.

Lee Junseok: I don’t pay attention to the speculation of pundits. The Reform New Party will always go its own way and prove its own achievements.

Sosongseop: We’ll end here. Thank you for joining us today.

Lee Junseok: Thank you.