The Turbulent Third Zone... Two Paths Ahead of Ahn

Will the Bareunmirae-led 'Third Zone' led by Ahn integrate?
Son vs Ahn Bareunmirae party leadership competition possibility remains
Interest in Yoo Seung-min and Ahn Cheol-soo relationship setting

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyemin and Lim Chunhan] With the general election just over four months away, the so-called 'third zone' is shaking up. This follows former lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, known for his centrist image, directly announcing his plan to return to politics. Various scenarios are already emerging, ranging from the unification of existing 'third zone' parties to the creation of a new party. On the 3rd, lawmakers from the Bareun Party, including Yoo Seung-min, left the Bareunmirae Party and launched a new party on the 5th, setting the course for an independent 'third zone' path.

After returning to Korea, Ahn's moves can be broadly categorized into two: returning to his original party, the Bareunmirae Party, or founding a new party independently. The most weighty possibility is his return to the Bareunmirae Party, which he originally founded. Close aides of Ahn hope that he will lead the Bareunmirae Party and unify the centrist parties in the third zone. A Bareunmirae Party lawmaker affiliated with Ahn said, "If Ahn returns, the party will naturally shift to the Ahn Cheol-soo system," adding, "Ahn will contribute his strength to the third zone that unites all centrist parties except the extremes."

However, the possibility of another power struggle within the Bareunmirae Party cannot be ruled out. Following Ahn-affiliated lawmakers, party faction lawmakers who supported leader Sohn Hak-kyu are also pressuring him to resign. They argue that Sohn should step down and form an emergency committee to broaden Ahn's room for maneuver. A lawmaker from the party faction said, "Nine lawmakers from the party member faction will gather opinions next week so that Leader Sohn can decide on his honorable retirement." The top committee members from the party faction also all boycotted the top committee meeting that day.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the other hand, Leader Sohn openly expressed displeasure. At the party headquarters in Yeouido the previous day, he told reporters, "Why do they keep telling me to step down as leader?" and flatly denied, "I have never said such a thing myself." Regarding the demand to form an emergency committee, he said, "Politics should not be driven by personal interests."

If the conflict over the Bareunmirae Party leadership becomes a reality, there is also a possibility that Ahn will found a new party. This would mean mobilizing the 'third zone' forces from outside the Bareunmirae Party. The integration movement with the Democratic Peace Party and the Alternative New Party (tentative name), which are considered the 'third zone' within the National Assembly, is likely to be postponed for the time being. Leader Sohn also said, "If we strengthen the power of the third force from the center, integration with the Alternative New Party or the Democratic Peace Party will naturally be discussed," adding, "If the third zone forces become a Honam party or a Honam Jaminryun, it will only weaken the democratic forces."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the same day, eight lawmakers from the Bareun Party, including Yoo Seung-min, left the Bareunmirae Party and began independent activities. They are Ha Tae-kyung, chairman of the New Conservative Party founding committee, Yoo Seung-min, Chung Byung-guk, Lee Hye-hoon, Oh Shin-hwan, Yoo Ui-dong, Ji Sang-wook, and Chung Un-chun. Oh Shin-hwan, the floor leader, also resigned and joined the departure. They will officially launch the New Conservative Party on the 5th and begin full-scale activities as the fourth largest party in the National Assembly.

Although attention is focused on the possibility of unification with the Liberty Korea Party, given that many are former Saenuri Party (now Liberty Korea Party) members, for now they seem to be drawing a line and focusing on highlighting themselves as an alternative to the Liberty Korea Party. At a press conference that day, Yoo emphasized, "We will fundamentally rebuild the fallen conservative camp. We will become a new conservative force that properly checks and replaces the Moon Jae-in administration."

The key issue is the possibility of an alliance with former lawmaker Ahn. Yoo initially denied the possibility of cooperation with Ahn, saying, "Our two-year marriage ended in failure," but Ha Tae-kyung, chairman of the New Conservative Party founding committee, interprets it differently. On YTN radio that day, Ha said, "Yoo's remark meant he thought he was marrying Ahn, but after marriage, the partner had changed," adding, "Even if they don't join the same party, there is a high possibility that they will maintain a cooperative relationship through policy coordination and electoral alliances," leaving room for cooperation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.