Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform Party, said Wednesday that former lawmaker Yoo Seong-min is "deeply worried" about Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon.
Speaking on MBC Radio that day, Lee pushed back on speculation that his recent contact with Yoo was aimed at positioning for a potential Seoul mayoral by-election in April next year — a race that could open if Oh's first-instance conviction for violating election law, which would void his election, is upheld. "That is not the case at all," Lee said. He added that he is trying to connect Oh with capable lawyers or legal professionals who could assist him. Lee and Yoo dined together Monday at a restaurant in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
"He suddenly asked to meet, and since he didn't tell me why in advance, I wondered if there might be something like that — but there wasn't at all," Lee said. "If anything, his concern for Mayor Oh was very strong."
Lee added that Yoo appeared to be reflecting seriously on what his final role in politics should be. "He has been in politics for nearly 27 years as a conservative politician," Lee said. "He seems to be genuinely thinking about what his last act, his last role, will look like."
Lee also said Yoo feels he did not play a sufficient role during the last presidential election and related events. "Since he was born in 1958, he seems to see this year and next as his last window to serve as a politician, and he is moving accordingly," Lee said.
Lee, who also serves on the National Assembly's special committee investigating the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, said early voting had proven remarkably clean. "People who have been talking about election fraud for the past seven years will remember — they always said early voting was ripe for fraud and that people should vote on election day instead," he said. "There were no miscounts of turnout figures in early voting. Remarkably, not a single case was found."
Lee drew a sharp contrast between the parties on the question of a recount. "The Reform Party, the Democratic Party and the Rebuilding Korea Party all want to recount the ballots said to be stored at Olympic Park — on camera, with full video documentation," he said. "The position that a special prosecutor should seize them through search and seizure is in effect the People Power Party's stance. The PPP is the party blocking the recount."
mp1256@heraldcorp.com
