Lee Jun-seok, a member of the Reform Party, who was the first to register as a preliminary candidate for the presidential election among the conservative groups, raised his voice on the 10th, stating that Lee Jae-myung, the former leader of the Democratic Party, should retract his pledge for a "sovereign wealth funds" to foster a Korean version of NVIDIA.
The former leader argued for the establishment of a sovereign wealth funds to foster a Korean version of NVIDIA and to implement a tax cut for citizens using the revenue.
On the same day, Lee met with reporters at the Gangnam campaign office in Seocho District, Seoul, and remarked, "'Jamvidia' (referring to the former leader's pledge) is a Lee Jae-myung-style Blue Whale," and questioned whether the idea of investing sovereign wealth funds in high-risk assets could belong to someone who intends to operate the country stably.
He also criticized, saying, "This is not just asking for a way to secure resources for one's basic series (basic welfare and basic income pledges) and throwing a barrage of nonsensical remarks."
He mentioned the volatility of U.S. Nasdaq-listed stocks, stating, "If we let go of one leader who operates the country in a lottery-like manner and bring in another lottery-style national management leader, Korea's future will be bleak," and urged, "I hope nonsensical pledge ideas will be retracted."
Regarding the background of establishing the campaign office in Gangnam instead of Yeouido or Gwanghwamun, Lee explained, "The area around Gangnam Station and Teheran Road is a vibrant space filled with young people and venture culture, making it the optimal location to create a new political culture in this election."
He added that the vicinity of Gangnam-daero has a high floating population, as many office workers commute to and from the southern Gyeonggi area, and it also has excellent accessibility.
He also remarked, "There are buses with intervals of 20 to 30 minutes. We have prepared a space on the first floor for people to drop by, enjoy a cup of coffee, and relax freely."
The lawmaker also emphasized that he would engage in "future-oriented politics" through the Reform Party.
He stated, "While the emergence of various candidates is generally a positive story, within the People Power Party, one cannot disregard the expectation that this primary process will be held under the shadow of former President Yoon Suk-yeol," adding, "When discussing the past, the People Power Party brings up pro- and anti-impeachment debates, while the Democratic Party discusses pro-Lee Jae-myung and anti-Lee Jae-myung factions. Hence, we will engage in future-oriented politics. We will craft and present policies and pledges that encompass both the younger generation and those in their 40s and 50s."