"A Situation Unacceptable for a Constitutional Scholar"
On the 4th, Lee Seokyeon, chairperson of the Presidential National Unity Committee, met with Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, and said, "Even now, we must revive the roots and spirit of conservatism so that we can move forward together, and we must cooperate with the People Power Party or anyone else." He added, however, "But we cannot move together with the forces responsible for the insurrection or their sympathizers."
Chairperson Lee made these remarks while paying a courtesy visit to the Reform New Party at the main building of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on this day.
Lee Junseok, leader of the Reform New Party, is shaking hands with Lee Seokyeon, chairman of the National Unity Committee, during a meeting at the National Assembly on the 4th. Yonhap News
Chairperson Lee explained, "Only when the opposition party regains its strength in a sound manner and becomes active again can the ruling party and the government respond accordingly, work together properly, and work for national development. Right now, one wing is broken," adding, "This is not desirable for national unity either."
He went on to say, "Although Leader Lee started out from the conservative camp, I believe he now stands in a position that embraces the rational center and progressives as well," stressing that Lee's role is important. In this context, Chairperson Lee argued that cooperation from the broader conservative bloc, including the People Power Party, is necessary. However, he emphasized that distance must be kept from forces related to the insurrection.
Addressing Lee, Chairperson Lee said, "As a scholar of constitutional law, an insurrection is a situation that cannot be tolerated," and urged, "You must exercise your political leadership so that you can move together with anyone other than those who aided or cooperated with the insurrection." He also said, "Only when there is a sound opposition party can there be a proper ruling party and a government that pursues policies in a rational manner."
At the meeting, Lee Junseok said, "Among the younger generation, we often see cases where they form misguided views about political ideologies or forces and then clash on that basis," adding, "When these people grow older, there will be conflicts arising from this, so I hope the National Unity Committee can address this issue in advance and preemptively."
Meanwhile, after Chairperson Lee's courtesy visit, Lee Junseok met with reporters and, regarding the People Power Party's proposal to lower the voting age to 16, said that there could be concerns and that "this is an issue that needs to be discussed." Earlier, Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, said at a plenary session of the National Assembly on this day that the party would "take the lead in pushing forward the lowering of the voting age."
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