Lee Jun-seok says Jang Dong-hyuk will follow Hwang Kyo-ahn's path, drawing a line on merger with People Power Party before general election

[Financial News] Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform Party, criticized People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk on the 13th, saying, "Under Hwang Kyo-ahn's style of leadership, the party drifted along without any real alternative, suffered a crushing defeat, and he himself ended up going down the path of election denial. I think Jang may follow that same path."
On CBS Radio's 'Park Sung-tae's News Show' that day, Lee was asked whether Jang's leadership would last until the 2028 general election. He said he expected it to continue, adding, "The group called 'Alternatives and Future' is being hollowed out as it fights Jang and various incidents keep happening. Back when I was in the Bareunmirae Party, Ha Tae-keung and I led the push for Sohn Hak-kyu's resignation, and that also collapsed in a similar way."
He drew a line, however, on the possibility of a merger with the People Power Party before the 2028 general election. "It won't be easy. If there are still people saying election fraud and martial law were justified, it could end up looking like the old blind Hwang Kyo-ahn-style merger, and the result would not be good," he predicted.
He also commented on the People Power Party's recent relaunch of its Organization Strengthening Special Committee. Lee said, "The problem with the special committee is never just who to cut, but whether there are people to bring in." He added, "Jang does not appear to be in a position to push through people who would be strong candidates, so it may not be that powerful. But it will pose a threat to those in favorable districts or those facing disciplinary issues."
He also described a luncheon meeting with People Power Party floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik. "If the conservative camp wants to secure close to a majority of seats, it needs 40 more seats. To do that, it would need to gain 20 seats, including in Gyeonggi Province," he said. "I suggested we pick 20 together, but we couldn't do it."
He added, "People like Lee Jun-seok in Dongtan, Yu Eui-dong in Pyeongtaek, and Kim Yong-tae in Pocheon are all the kind of figures who could be brought down by a single blow of gerrymandering." He said he had also asked whether there was any countermeasure in a situation where the Democratic Party of Korea could split up districts where it holds an advantage.
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