This is the third in a series of interviews with first-term lawmakers. ― Ed.


Rep. Lee Yong-sub of the newly formed main opposition Democratic Unified Party is a novice member of the current 18th National Assembly.

The 60-year-old lawmaker from Gwangju, however, is more recognized for his decades-long career in a variety of government posts, including as public administration minister, land minister and national tax service director.

“An administrator’s virtue is cool-headedness and discipline but a politician has to be passionate and sensitive in order to access the people’s hearts,” Lee said.

“The two careers are indeed very different but my experience as the former helped me a great deal in performing the role of the latter.”

As a bureaucrat-turned-lawmaker, he has strengths in singling out the government’s faults or abuses of power, Lee said.

“One of the key roles of lawmakers, especially of opposition lawmakers, is to monitor the government, and for this, they have to know the administration thoroughly,” he said.

Lee also served as spokesperson of the former Democratic Party before it merged with other liberal groups earlier this month in an attempt to up its chances in next year’s general and presidential elections.

“It was a great challenge for a man of my age and career to take the post,” said Lee, who was one of the eldest spokespersons of the liberal party.

The experience nevertheless turned out to be beneficial, as it helped him grab the essentials of politics in a short period of time, the former administrator said.

During his 207 days as spokesman, Lee spoke for the DP on major issues such as Seoul City’s free school meal plebiscite, the Seoul mayoral by-election, and the recent integration of the left-wing camp.

However, he seldom raised his voice when discussing the issues, presenting a calm and composed image.

“When I took office in May, I pledged to remain objective and policy-focused, which made my remarks sound less aggressive than those of my predecessors,” he said.

Though he sometimes faced discontent at his style of doing jobs as a mouthpiece of the opposition party, the former spokesperson claimed that reform may most efficiently be achieved in a gentle manner.

“Aggressive calls for reform may induce a backlash from the privileged class,” he said.

Also, the opposition camp needed to build itself a trustworthy public-friendly image in order to resume its former ruling party position, Lee added.

“I, as the party’s spokesperson, needed to show to the people that the DP is not about young reformers pushing ahead with radical changes,” the lawmaker said.

After stepping down from the land minister post in February 2008 and ending his 33-year-long career as a public servant, Lee was sought after by private firms but chose an unprecedented path for a bureaucrat, which was to become a liberal lawmaker.

“People may be classified into two categories ― those who seek economic profits, and those who pursue other values,” he said.

“I chose to further serve the people, this time as a member of the legislation instead of the administration.”

In trying to carry out his beliefs, Lee encountered hardships as a member of the left-wing party.

“Opposition lawmakers may suggest policies but their claims are hardly ever adopted by the government, especially so by the current Lee Myung-bak administration,” he said.

“The media, too, tends to pay little attention to the voices of first-term opposition lawmakers.”

First-term lawmakers may be limited in their power but are to play a crucial role in the assembly, he said.

“Reformist first-term lawmakers should speak up in order to break down corrupt practices within the parliament,” he said.

The former spokesperson also expressed his regrets over scuffles in which the DP was involved this year, including the physical clashes between unity-boycotters and the party leadership during its latest national convention.

“The DUP needs to remember that it may achieve unity but still gain nothing, should it fail to win the people’s trust,” he said.

Lee pledged to contribute to the new party, no longer as a spokesperson but as an aspiring second-term lawmaker.

“The ultimate and common goal of the liberal camp is to overthrow the Lee government in next year’s elections,” he said.

For this, the left-wing is to correct its flaws and prove to the people that it is capable of replacing the current powers, he said.

“Recently, people cheered for non-party figures such as Park Won-soon and Ahn Cheol-soo, but I do not believe that they stopped believing in party politics,” the lawmaker said.

“They are demanding that the current parties renew themselves and we are meet their demands.”

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)