Lee Junseok Draws Line on Election Alliance... "Jang Donghyuk Seeks Unification Excluding Potential Rivals"

Lee Junseok Meets with Young Faction of People Power Party
"Jang Intends to Unify While Excluding Potential Rivals"
Predicts Han Will "Make a Calm Judgment"

Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, effectively drew a line regarding the possibility of an alliance for the local elections during a meeting with the young faction of the People Power Party on February 2. Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, also remarked that he would attempt unification, except for potential rivals.

On this day, at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, Lee attended a public forum as a keynote speaker, organized by "Alternatives and Future," a group of first- and second-term lawmakers from the People Power Party's young faction. He stated, "I don't know if Jang is making the same choice as Hwang Kyo-ahn, former leader of the People Power Party, and expecting a different result, but it is highly likely to end up with a similar outcome," adding, "Why would I knowingly get involved in political unification under these circumstances?"

Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, is speaking at a forum diagnosing and discussing solutions for the crisis of Korean conservatism, hosted by the People Power Party's young faction group "Alternatives and Future," held on the 3rd at the National Assembly Members' Office Building.

Lee emphasized that he remembers all the actions Hwang took to keep his rival, Yoo Seungmin, former lawmaker of the People Power Party, in check during Hwang's leadership. He continued, "Jang will likely make the same judgment as Hwang did in the political landscape after the impeachment," and explained, "Although he talks about unification outwardly, it is clear that he intends to exclude those who could become his potential rivals from the unification process." He added, "This is not a battle between good and evil, but a matter of strategic choice."

He also commented, "The narrative in the conservative camp that unity guarantees victory is the Hwang Kyo-ahn narrative," and added, "We are not swayed by this." Regarding Hwang, he warned, "What the People Power Party should be cautious about is that Hwang is saying he will run in the Pyeongtaek by-election, but as someone unrelated to Pyeongtaek, his intention is one hundred percent to later propose a single candidacy. There is a significant risk if the People Power Party falls for this."

Regarding Han Donghoon, former leader of the People Power Party, Lee said, "I think he is an excellent asset." He added, "Speaking from my own experience of being ousted as party leader, Han is probably in a period of anger right now." He continued, "Since Han is a smart person, I believe he will make a calm judgment once this period of anger passes." He also mentioned that, although not immediately, "a person of stature may have another opportunity in the future."

In his keynote speech, Lee identified the crisis and causes facing the conservative camp as the disappearance of traditional regional and generational alignments. He specifically pointed out, "The People Power Party's traditional election strategy of isolating Honam through an alliance between Yeongnam and Chungcheong had already collapsed in the early 2000s." He continued, "This could be an opportunity for one side of the conservative camp," and explained, "Among voters in their 20s, 30s, and early 40s, it has now become possible to expand support even in the Honam region."

Ultimately, the alternative is to embrace the discourse of the younger generation, establish representative leadership that matches the changed support base, and reform the system. Lee stressed, "It will be important to measure what the younger generation responds to." He pointed out that as the younger generation has recently developed antipathy and resistance to the existing political correctness (PC) movement, it is necessary to address this trend. However, Lee believes that the People Power Party has so far failed to recognize and make efforts to approach this shift.