Reform Party Evaluates Presidential Election Results

On June 23, the Reform Party held a seminar at the National Assembly to assess the results of the June 3 presidential election, where former candidate Lee Jun-seok garnered 8.34% of the votes. Kim Jong-in, the former senior advisor of the Reform Party, emphasized the need for Lee to address his high disapproval ratings if he hopes to gain broader public support. He noted that the current ruling party, People Power Party, has not adequately reflected on the two impeachment events in the past, suggesting that the Reform Party must carefully analyze how to secure absolute support from the public.

Political commentator Kim Jun-il pointed out that the party's support base is limited to specific demographics, particularly young men in their 20s and 30s, and highlighted the challenges posed by Lee's high disapproval ratings. However, he acknowledged the achievements made despite the limitations of being a smaller party with younger politicians. He also mentioned that internal conflicts within the People Power Party could present opportunities for the Reform Party.

Jo Gap-je, the head of Jo Gap-je.com, questioned how long the Reform Party would focus solely on young voters, suggesting the need to develop agendas that resonate with older generations, including issues of security and the legitimacy of Korean history.

Jin Joong-kwon, a special professor at Kwangwoon University, cautioned against relying on emotional appeals to gain votes, stressing that if the Reform Party aims to surpass the People Power Party, it must act responsibly as a mainstream party. He noted that the support from young women in their 20s and 30s was alarmingly low, questioning how the party could pursue a broad appeal while alienating these voters.

Former candidate Lee Jun-seok acknowledged past negative experiences and stressed the importance of focusing on achieving positive results in the upcoming local elections next year. He accepted full responsibility for the outcomes of the presidential election, which he noted was heavily candidate-driven.