Former President Lee Myung-bak speaks during an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo at the Cheonggye Foundation office in Seocho-dong, Seocho District, southern Seoul. [KWEN HYEK-JAE]
Former President Lee Myung-bak has warned that Korea’s conservative bloc faces no future without reflection and unity, offering a pointed assessment in his first interview with the JoongAng Ilbo since leaving office. “Conservatives did not simply lose. They suffered a crushing defeat,” he said, adding that there has been neither thorough analysis nor self-reflection, but instead deepening division.
The People Power Party has struggled to regain direction after its heavy defeat in the 2024 general election. The situation worsened following former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment after his declaration of emergency martial law, triggering internal conflicts. Lee’s call to first acknowledge the scale of defeat reflects growing concern even within conservative ranks.
Lee also criticized the ongoing internal debate over Yoon. He advised that legal judgment on the former president should be left to the courts, while the party should focus on presenting a vision that voters can accept. Without such a shift, he suggested, restoring public trust would be difficult. His remarks highlight the party’s continued ties to hardline factions advocating “Yoon again,” which have complicated efforts to broaden support.
On factionalism, Lee said the current disputes appear minor compared to the intense rivalry between pro-Park Geun-hye and pro-Lee Myung-bak camps in the past. Still, he issued a stark warning, saying both the party leadership and nonmainstream figures lack the qualifications to engage in politics if they fail to overcome divisions. His criticism reflects concern that fragmentation could further weaken the conservative camp.
The party’s difficulties are becoming more visible ahead of local elections. It has struggled to identify a strong candidate for Gyeonggi governor and is facing disputes over nominations in traditional strongholds such as Daegu. At the same time, signs of erosion are emerging within key support groups, including voters in their 70s and those in their 20s and 30s. A prolonged decline in the opposition could increase the risk of unchecked dominance by the ruling party.
Lee also noted that President Lee Jae Myung has shown a willingness to adopt policies traditionally associated with conservative administrations, including reversing the nuclear phaseout, promoting Arctic shipping routes and pursuing resource diplomacy. He described such moves as “courageous,” suggesting that conservatives should respond by uniting and presenting credible policy alternatives.
Lee added that public support for conservatism, rooted in its role in defending liberal democracy and contributing to economic growth, has not entirely disappeared. However, he warned that without meaningful change, that support may not endure.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
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