Nam Hyun-woo has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2013, mostly covering business and politics. He currently belongs to the Business Desk where he covers topics such as emerging tech, AI, ICT and Korea's chaebol community. Prior to joining the team, he was the paper's correspondent for the presidential office of Korea during the Yoon Suk Yeol and Moon Jae-in administrations.
Ex-ruling party chief breaks away from PPP as pundits voice skepticism
People Power Party former Chairman Lee Jun-seok gestures during a press conference announcing his departure from the party at a restaurant in Nowon District, Seoul, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps
By Nam Hyun-woo
Lee Jun-seok vows to create new party as 'agora' of responsible politicians
Former chairman of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), Lee Jun-seok, left the party and pledged to launch his own party, Wednesday, saying he will create an “agora” of responsible politicians instead of a “colosseum” where politicians wield swords against others.
“Today I leave the PPP, and give up all political assets that I had within the party,” Lee said during a press conference at a restaurant in Nowon District, Seoul, which is his political hometown. “You cannot paint a vivid future with your mind on the glory and the legacy of the past.”
The departure came 12 years after he made his political debut as an emergency leadership committee member of the conservative Grand National Party, which later became the PPP.
In recent months, Lee has been raising pressure on the PPP by threatening to leave and create a new party if President Yoon Suk Yeol does not change his leadership style by Wednesday. He proposed a number of conditions for him to remain with the party, including a meeting between the president and the bereaved families of those killed in the Itaewon crowd crush in October last year.
"While the country is facing a crisis, someone is still attempting to scapegoat opponents as villains and is actively steering citizens in that direction insisting that dismantling them is the most crucial mission," Lee said. “Nearly two years have passed after the presidential election, but why must we still speak a swordsman’s language as if we have to defeat an enemy?”
The comments were interpreted as referring to Yoon and new PPP interim leader Han Dong-hoon. Both are former prosecutors and have been using harsh rhetoric against the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea.
“Politics requires effort to make peoples’ lives better,” Lee added. “Citizens should stop enjoying gladiator battles to defeat the opponent at the colosseum. Please come to the agora and support responsible politicians who discuss resolutions to the crisis in our community.”
Then-People Power Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok, right, hugs the party's then-presidential candidate Yoon Suk Yeol during a lawmakers' general assembly at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Jan. 6, 2022. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-keun
Once viewed as a golden boy among conservatives, Lee lost his political footing after being removed from the party’s leadership over a bribery and prostitution scandal in 2022. Since then, Lee has been butting heads with the president and his loyalists in the party as he struggles to maintain a political presence and build up momentum for a successful return.
During the press conference, Lee slammed a series of policies that the Yoon administration introduced, such as the government’s idea of expanding medical school quotas, using taxpayers’ money to support universities outside of Seoul and pension scheme reforms.
“Including the president, most Korean politicians cannot solve those problems because most of their political careers will end in 10 years,” Lee said. “How can their politics be future oriented? ... In my new party, I will take on these crises and address these problems honestly even though that may cost ballots … If someone again attempts to make others villains in the colosseum, I will do my best to bring them back to the agora and speak about our future.”
Lee’s breakaway bid was once expected to have an impact on the ruling party’s general election campaigns, as it could signal a rift between pro- and anti-Yoon factions within the party. But a new twist was introduced after the party nominated the former justice minister as its interim leader.
Han, described as the next presidential candidate of the ruling bloc, instantly became the center of media attention, creating hopes of a fresh leadership at the ruling party among conservative voters, while liberals criticized his bold language and hardline stance against the opposition.
Former People Power Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok speaks during a press conference on his departure from the party at a restaurant in Nowon District, Seoul, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps
“Lee’s breakaway bid has already lost momentum,” said Park Sang-byeong, a professor at Inha University's Graduate School of Policy Science. “Politics is all about timing. Lee should have floated his own ship when the tide was good for him. With Han dominating the public's attention, the outlook remains grim for Lee’s new party.”
It remains unclear whether Lee’s departure will resonate among party members who were close to the former ruling party chief or those who have been critical of Yoon.
Among Lee’s four closest associates in the ruling party, former PPP Supreme Council member Kim Yong-tae has said he will stay within the party.
Rep. Her Eun-a, who is a proportional representative, will lose her lawmaker status if she leaves the party, and Chun Ha-ram, the head of the party’s regional unit in Suncheon in South Jeolla Province, will also lose his position if he exits.
Chances are also slim for Yoon's critics within the PPP to join Lee’s new party.
Former PPP Rep. Yoo Seong-min said in an interview with broadcaster MBC, Tuesday, that “it is extremely difficult to succeed with a new party” and that he has “yet to decide whether to leave the party or create a new one.”
“Although Lee has already left the party, he has no option but to return to the party in the future, given his political footing,” Park said. “In that case, a possible plan B is giving up his new party bid and running for the general elections in conservative strongholds, such as Daegu, so that he will minimize the impact on the PPP’s campaign.”