Recollection of the meeting with journalists after an overseas trip
“The President requested specific candidate nominations”, ‘[Edaily Reporter Kim Yu-sung] Lee Jun-seok, a member of the Reform Party, revealed that during the local elections in June 2022, when he was the head of the People Power Party, there was evidence of President Yoon Suk-yeol’s involvement in candidate nominations.’,
After returning from an overseas trip on the 14th, Lee met with journalists and stated, “A provincial party chairman pleaded with the President, saying ‘Lee Jun-seok is not listening,’ and the President asked me to arrange for a specific nomination for a mayor. There was also a suggestion made about a certain district mayor’s nomination in Seoul, implying ‘the current candidates are not competitive, so wouldn’t it be better to give it to someone else?’”
He further added, “If the prosecution needs to verify certain details and conducts an investigation, I am willing to provide more definitive information than what is already known,” and mentioned having seen “things that are ridiculous and nonsensical.”
Regarding whether he had received direct contact from President Yoon or First Lady Kim Keon-hee concerning nominations, he replied, “There could naturally be communication.” However, Lee also noted, “When someone tries to wield influence over the nomination committee by claiming to know the intentions of the President and First Lady, I’ve asked, ‘I hear this person is saying this, is there something I should be aware of?’”
He also refuted claims made by Myung Tae-kyun’s side. Myung’s side had alleged that Lee sent a KakaoTalk message stating, ‘President-elect Yoon wants Kim Young-sun to run in the primary.’ In response, Lee remarked, “I transmitted it because it seemed like a misunderstanding,” and added, “If there had been talk of strategic nominations, I would have heard it from the nomination committee, but there wasn’t such an atmosphere.”
Regarding the allegations that the Future Korea Research Institute conducted free public opinion polls during the 2021 party convention, Lee denied claiming, “There was no such thing.” He explained, “It was a weekly survey, and I wasn’t included as a candidate when the survey started,” dismissing the claims.