President Lee: "It's a different matter if we lost where we should have won"... Local election results call it "a warning from the people"

Yonhap News [Financial News] On the 8th, President Lee Jae-myung assessed the results of the June 3 local elections, stating, "At the very least, it is not a success. " President Lee expressed his intention to approach state affairs with a humbler attitude, without changing the direction of state policy, while stating that the election results must be accepted as a warning from the people.
At the press conference marking his first anniversary in office held at the Blue House State Guest House on this day, when asked about his assessment of the local election results and whether there would be a change in the direction of state policy, President Lee said, "Whether we won or lost depends on the criteria," adding, "It depends on the standards of the judging body.
" However, President Lee noted, "Losing what we should have won, or losing where we should have won, is a different matter," and stated, "At the very least, it is not a success.
" President Lee emphasized that the election results must be accepted as a warning from the people. He stated, "From my perspective, I believe it is the President's responsibility even if it does not rain," adding, "I must bear the burden of all problems occurring in the Republic of Korea.
" He continued, "Although an incomprehensible situation arose regarding the local elections, even that serves as a warning to me and this administration," and declared, "We must be more humble and adopt a lower stance.
" President Lee remarked, "I think I fell short in speaking to and persuading the sovereigns until the very end," adding, "The conclusion is my own inadequacy.
" Regarding a potential change in the direction of state affairs, he said, "There will be no change in the direction of state affairs," adding, "I intend to work even harder. I will do the maximum possible with the authority given to me, even faster than I do now.
" President Lee also called for a change in the role of the ruling party. President Lee stated, "The party must naturally be different when in power compared to when in opposition," adding, "When in opposition, one must wield the spear well, but when in power, the ruling party must become a vessel.
" He continued, "Those entering the fortress may be people who used to curse or people of different ideologies, but we must effectively fulfill the role of inclusion to gather as many of them as possible," noting, "A party does not become strong simply by being good at cursing. True strength lies in being able to receive everything like the ocean.
" He showed a cautious attitude regarding the analysis of the alienation of public sentiment among the youth, including female voters in their 20s and 30s. President Lee stated, "Once you lose, there are a myriad of reasons for the loss," adding that "it is difficult to define it unequivocally.
" President Lee explained, "Looking at the Seoul City election, there is a significant difference between the total votes for district heads and the total votes for the mayor. If the total votes for city council members are added, the gap widens even further, and it is highly likely that completely different results will emerge when considering age groups," adding that "it is difficult to pinpoint exactly what this is.
" He continued, "Ultimately, it is my fault," and asked, "Isn't it frightening to see people vote for the Democratic Party for district heads or city council members but deliberately vote for a different party for the mayor?" President Lee remarked, "In the past, people voted in a single line, but that is not the case these days," adding, "They are making a choice.
We must be wary of each and every one of them. " Regarding the reasons for the alienation of public sentiment among the youth, he added, "I think the party will analyze it. "
west@fnnews.com Seong Seok-woo, Kim Hyeong-gu Reporter