South Korean opposition party names rising star Lee Jun-seok youngest-ever leader

[TexasTowelie]

SEOUL, June 11 (UPI) -- South Korea's main opposition People Power Party announced 36-year-old Lee Jun-seok as its chairman on Friday, making him the youngest-ever leader of a major political party in the country's history.

Lee, an entrepreneur and Harvard graduate who has never held elected office, defeated his closest rival, four-term lawmaker Na Kyung-won, by a vote of 43.8% to 37.1% at the party's national convention. The elections used a combined form of voting from party members and opinion polls from the general public.

In his acceptance speech, Lee stressed "coexistence" with the various factions within the conservative party ahead of the presidential election in March 2022.

"Our top task is to win the presidential election, and in the process, we will create a party that can coexist with its supporters," he said.

Read more: https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/06/11/skorea-Lee-Jun-Seok-People-Power-Party-youngest-ever-leader/6541623397247/

[soryang]

1. he's a "deplorable" play for disaffected younger male voters

Last edited Sun Jun 13, 2021, 12:55 AM - Edit history (1)

The "il be" ( 일베 ) crowd loves him. These people talk to themselves on social media about how women get preference for jobs, don't serve in the military, and have other "advantages" over males. There is a sense of crisis among these voters in a neo-liberal economy strapped by excessive real estate speculation, having to know someone influential ( 인맥 in mek ) to get a job or other opportunity, and of course, the pandemic restrictions and adverse economic and social effects. Therefore, household formation is down, birth rates are sharply down, and jobs commensurate with skill levels are scarce. This block of under 40 voters is stuck living at home with mom and dad in many cases. However, contrary to their misogynist views, South Korea, is regarded by most studies as having one of the most regressive records on women's rights in the OECD. Yet, the me too movement is South Korea provides the scapegoat for this readily exploited cohort of angry voters in the their twenties and thirties.

These disaffected younger generation voters are a source of instability in South Korean politics and are being manipulated as a distraction from some really serious threats to democracy particularly in the traditionally conservative South Korean press, the administration of justice (the courts, and the prosecutors offices), and the related widespread business corruption ( 감언판유착 prosecutor press court collusion and 적폐기득권체제 deeply rooted evil system of special interests ).

The right through its control of the press and the court system has succeeded in creating a false impression that the current administration is responsible for the real estate crisis in particular. Both conservative candidates elected in Seoul and Pusan mayoral races have been involved in dubious real estate transactions of the kind deplored. Conservative members in the National Legislature refuse to disclose their real estate holdings over the past seven years while democrats were forced by leadership to disclose their holdings.

[Mosby]

2. 👍

Thx for the insights!