Outgoing DPK leader laments stalled inter-Korean ties

By Kang Seung-woo

Lee Hae-chan, the outgoing chairman of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), regretted, Friday, that inter-Korean relations could not develop further during his two-year tenure, vowing to continue efforts to get the stalled bilateral ties back on track after retirement.

The former seven-term lawmaker, 68, will wrap up his 32-year political career, Saturday, when the DPK will hold a virtual convention to pick a new leader to replace him.

“I really wanted to build a cornerstone that would contribute to inter-Korean relations advancing, but they have been stalled,” Lee said during a press conference livestreamed via YouTube.

“Inter-Korean exchanges got off to a solid start, but now they are facing a deadlock, which is the most pitiful thing during my two-year term. Keeping it in mind that there must not be another war on the Korean Peninsula, and inter-Korean affairs should be addressed via dialogue.”

Bidding farewell to political circles, Lee will serve as the leader of the Northeast Asia Peace Economic Association.

“Leaving from office, I will head the Northeast Asia Peace Economic Association. I plan to work on private exchanges between the two Koreas that the government cannot,” Lee said.

Lee said he was most proud of the DPK's landslide victory in April's general election, in which the party took 176 seats in the 300-seat National Assembly.

“When I ran for party chairman in 2018, I pledged to bring a general election win to the party and we did a great job,” he said.

“I set my sights on the general election over the past two years and the people approved of my efforts.”