Lee Jun-seok elected new leader of minor Reform Party

Lee Jun-seok, sole candidate for Reform Party leader, delivers his policy speech during the party’s second convention at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building in Seoul on July 27, 2025. /Yonhap

Lee Jun-seok was elected new leader of the minor opposition Reform Party on July 27. The party held its convention at the National Assembly in Seoul, where Lee, running unopposed, won with 98.22% approval.

Since he ran unopposed, the vote was a simple yes-or-no ballot, with a 30% approval needed to win. Voting took place online over two days starting July 25.

In his acceptance speech, Lee said, “I am honored to take on this responsibility again and grateful for the chance to serve the party and the country.”

He promised to turn the party from a “plump cat into a sleek tiger.” Lee said the party would become a platform supporting members’ political activities and that all processes would move online.

He pledged to stop offline membership recruitment to prevent fake or organized sign-ups. Membership will be based only on verified online registration.

Lee also promised direct elections for regional party chairs and district committee heads if local membership reaches a certain level.

He plans to build an AI-based system to automate elections and keep local campaign costs under 3 million won. For the upcoming local elections, candidate applications will be accepted entirely online, and interviews will be held via video calls if needed. This aims to remove time and cost barriers for busy candidates.

Lee said the party will take on challenges other parties avoid and boldly change outdated political practices. “We will repay your trust with innovation beyond imagination,” he added.

Lee was the Reform Party’s first leader when it was founded in January last year, serving until May. Former lawmaker Her Eun-a took over but stepped down in February. Since then, floor leader Chun Ha-ram has served as acting leader.

At the convention, Kim Seong-yeol, former chief spokesperson, Ju Isaac, councilor of Seoul’s Seodaemun district, and attorney Kim Jeong-cheol were elected as top party executives, ranking first to third.