Former Conservative Leader Lee Jun-seok Resigns, Forms New Party

Former Leader of Conservative Party, Lee Jun-seok, Announces Resignation and Formation of New Party

In a press conference held at a restaurant in Seoul’s Nowon-gu district, Lee Jun-seok, the former leader of the conservative party, announced his resignation as party leader and the formation of a new party. With the upcoming general elections just 100 days away, Lee declared that he would “abandon all political assets within the conservative party.”

Regarding the possibility of rejoining the party before the general elections, Lee firmly rejected such scenarios, stating, “I unequivocally refuse any plans for rejoining the party before the general elections.” He officially initiated the process of forming the new party by submitting a declaration of establishment for the provisional committee of the “Reform New Party” to the National Election Commission.

During the press conference held at a restaurant in Sanggye-dong, Seoul, Lee expressed hesitance when asked about accepting positions such as chairman of the provisional committee. He had previously run for office three times in the Nowon-byeong district.

Competition with Candidate Han Dong-hoon and Criticism of the Current Government

Lee Jun-seok revealed that he is in a competitive relationship with Han Dong-hoon, who holds the position of emergency response committee chairman within the conservative party. He criticized Han, saying, “Even though South Korea is in a crisis, some individuals are envisioning the worst-case scenario and leading the public towards hostility and confrontation. Is it necessary for us to engage in extreme and provocative language even two years after the presidential election?” He also expressed his regret that the camp led by the prosecution is missing out on addressing the challenges of the times and criticized the current government and ruling party.

Lee stated, “In the new party, we will accurately perceive the crisis faced by the ruling party and confidently discuss the decline in support.” He mentioned that he is in close communication with a third political force, hinting at the possibility of cooperation with the third political axis.

Resignation Process and Future Plans

Lee Jun-seok decided to designate the day he entered politics 12 years ago as the day of his resignation. This is his second resignation from a conservative party following his departure during the impeachment crisis in 2016. Although he was elected as party leader in June 2021, he stepped down due to conflicts with Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl.

The news of Lee Jun-seok’s resignation and the formation of a new party has garnered attention in the Korean political landscape as preparations for the upcoming general elections are underway. With his extensive knowledge of Korean politics and past election experiences, Lee’s actions and statements are expected to shape political discourse in the coming months.