President Lee: "Can a President Really Reshape Politics? Poaching Lawmakers Is an '80s Tactic"

▲ President Lee Jae-myung speaks with reporters in the lobby of Chunchugwan, the press center of the Blue House, on October 19.

President Lee Jae-myung dismissed speculation linking his so-called "structural majority theory" to the possibility of an artificial political realignment, saying, "I do not even understand such imagination itself, and it is completely meaningless."

During a tea meeting with reporters on his visit to Chunchugwan at the Blue House on this day (October 19), President Lee said, "Ultimately, politics is conducted by the people, so expanding our horizons to a playing field that can win consent from a majority of the people is what I mean by the structural majority proposal."

"The reformist, progressive, and democratic camp is fundamentally a minority," President Lee said, citing instances in recent major elections where the Democratic Party of Korea or the broader ruling coalition failed to secure majority support.

His point was that even if the democratic and reformist camp firmly unites, the opposing camp also rallies together, making expansion into the political center more crucial for victory than rallying within one's own bloc.

Addressing this, he explained, "I believe the group I belong to is more moral and public-minded, but structurally speaking, we are a minority. No matter how much we unite among ourselves, if the moderate camp and a certain segment of rational conservatives unite on the other side, regaining power will be impossible."

Therefore, he emphasized, "We must move toward a playing field where moderates and rational conservatives agree," adding, "Achieving that agreement is what constitutes a structural majority."

In the process, he also said, "Would it even work if a president tries to reshape the political landscape? It is not as if we can mobilize the KCIA to beat people up and investigate them like in the old days. Claims that I am trying to engineer a political realignment have no validity at all."

He also remarked, "Poaching a few lawmakers from the other side is an '80s-style political realignment," adding, "Doing so would only increase backlash."

He also stated that there has been no change in his goal, stated upon taking office, of becoming a "president for everyone."

"The president's greatest task is unity," President Lee said. "If you represent one side and focus too much on it, you become an occupier rather than a president."

He reiterated, "I said I would be a president for everyone, and I never said I would be a president for only one side."

While stating that he would continue to pursue reform tasks, President Lee also hinted at the possibility of some degree of "pacing."

He first noted, "Regarding how much South Korean society has changed, I think there has been more progress than planned," but added, "Some also point out that doing too much at once may require pacing ourselves."

He continued, "When there is one (reform task from the perspective of stakeholders), they may think it is natural; when there are two, they become passive; and by the third, they might say, 'Do we really have to go this far?'"

He added, "The local elections seem to have been a turning point. Since more people are saying we are 'doing poorly' rather than 'doing well' due to various factors, perhaps we should adjust our pace."

Regarding the background behind the growing obstacles to reform, he analyzed, "My own lack of preparation and lack of process management are the biggest causes," reflecting, "I feel that there may have been a sort of overconfidence in carrying out the reform tasks."

He also reflected, "I think I may have held too strongly to the mindset of 'Endure it because things will eventually turn out for the better.' What is more important is persuading, empathizing with, and comforting those who stand to lose something, but we lacked that."

He further emphasized, "Speaking with you (the press corps) today is also part of my self-reflection on whether I have become too detached. I believe the biggest cause lies with me."

In the same vein, President Lee expressed his commitment to continue communicating directly through social media (SNS), stating, "It is difficult to agree with criticisms that my communication style is frivolous."

In this regard, he explained, "Didn't kings in the past secretly dress in commoners' clothes at night and listen to stories at back-alley taverns? Is a president some great, solemn being? A president is a public servant representing the people."

He also remarked, "Would President Lee Jae-myung even exist without social media? It is like a lifeline," adding, "The breathing hole that can save me at the final moment is communication with the people."

In addition, regarding appointments for key agency heads that have remained vacant for an extended period, such as the Minister of Justice and Commissioner General of the National Police Agency, President Lee remarked, "Among many tasks, personnel appointments seem truly difficult. It may look delayed to you, but we are doing our best to find the right people."

Regarding the delay in appointing a special inspector, he said, "I requested that one be appointed quickly, but I was told the opposition party is opposing it."

He added, "While I also wonder whether we really need to push ahead when the opposition opposes it, I nevertheless instructed officials to see if there is any viable way forward."

(Photo: Blue House Press Corps, Yonhap News)

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