▲ Reform Party leader and lawmaker Lee Jun-seok announces his resignation during a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall on the 26th.
Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform Party, has stepped down from his post to take political responsibility for the defeat in the June 3 local elections and other issues.
During a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall today (the 26th), Lee stated, "For a little over three months since the local elections, I have contemplated and proposed ways for the party to strengthen and reform itself, but they failed to gain sufficient support within the party," adding, "Today, I am stepping down as the leader of the Reform Party."
He went on to emphasize, "This is no one's fault.
The responsibility for failing to persuade others rests entirely on me as the party leader."
Following Lee's resignation, the Reform Party is expected to be led for the time being by Chun Ha-ram, the acting party leader and floor leader.
In this year's June 3 local elections, the Reform Party fielded numerous candidates for metropolitan and basic local government heads, but only managed to secure a single basic council seat.
In particular, the party's political footing had narrowed after Jung Yi-han, a candidate who ran for Busan mayor, was arrested and indicted on charges of staging a fake knife-attack hoax.
Lee reportedly decided to step down to take responsibility as the reform efforts he pursued following the election failed to gain consensus within the party.
During the press conference, Lee emphasized, "Before us lie unavoidable political schedules.
The clock of politics waits for no one."
He added, "I judged that we could not face those schedules without a consensus on our direction."
He continued, "If I was rather getting in the way of what other members of the party wanted to achieve, I thought stepping aside was the path I should choose for the party."
Regarding his future plans, he stated, "As a party member and a lawmaker representing Dongtan 2 District, I will do my part in my position," and requested, "Please give even greater support to those who will lead the party next."
Along with Lee's resignation, Policy Committee Chairperson Lee Ju-young and Supreme Council Members Kim Jung-chul and Kim Sung-yul also expressed their intentions to resign concurrently.
In a notice released after Lee's press conference, the Reform Party stated, "The leadership has resigned en masse to take responsibility for the defeat in the local elections and other matters," adding, "Floor Leader Chun Ha-ram will serve as acting party leader and hold a national convention to elect the next leadership."
The Reform Party's party constitution and bylaws do not contain separate provisions for an emergency leadership committee.
In the event of a vacancy resulting from the party leader's resignation, the rules dictate that positions are either succeeded in the order of votes received at the national convention depending on the remaining term, or an extraordinary national convention must be held within 60 days.
Lee reportedly expressed his intention to resign within the party over the past weekend.
Secretary-General Lee Ki-in appeared on a CBS radio broadcast this morning and explained, "There were some minor differences of opinion regarding the party's course and direction, but it wasn't to the extent of a conflict. Since everyone lacked enthusiasm during the process of gathering opinions, the party leader made a comprehensive judgment."
Drawing a line against interpretations that a controversy over responsibility within the party arose due to the Jung Yi-han candidate incident, Secretary-General Lee stated, "The Jung Yi-han incident did not cause internal conflict."
He elaborated, "Even though the individual was arrested and indicted and the party had no direct involvement, the party leader individually concluded that he should resign when it was deemed to be entering a recovery phase as a gesture of self-reflection."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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