Reform Party presidential candidate Lee Jun-seok said on the 5th, "I have never wavered in expressing my intention to complete this presidential election," and urged, "Do not mention my name in relation to the so-called 'big tent unification.'"
This is interpreted as a rebuttal to comments made by Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party candidate, during his explanation of the unification principle, where he noted that "(the unification) is intended to build an anti-Lee Jae-myung front and form a unified front of the conservative camp, including independent presidential candidate Han Duck-soo, Reform Party presidential candidate Lee Jun-seok, and Lee Nak-yon, the senior advisor of the New Future Party."
Lee noted on Facebook that "this presidential election is an early election that began with the emergency martial law turmoil of the Yoon Suk-yeol government," adding that "the People Power Party, which bears this responsibility, should not have put forward a candidate in the first place. It is politically unethical for those who served as ministers and prime ministers under that regime to talk about unification while mingling with those shouting 'Yoon Again.'"
The candidate stated that after finishing his schedule at Severance Children's Hospital in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on that afternoon, he welcomed any ordinary conversation in light of his relationship with independent candidate Han Duck-soo. While he could meet to exchange opinions with Han, this is interpreted as making it clear he will draw a line at discussions of unification.
He also pointed out, "Although various presidential candidates gathered at Jogyesa Temple, the focus on political news like unification and big tent at the temple backdrop seemed somewhat incompatible with the meaning of Buddha's Birthday."