The Dream of the Third Zone... Could the 'Second People's Party Surge' Happen?

Variables in Every Third-Party Election
From Jeong Ju-young in 1992 to Today's Ahn Cheol-soo
The Driving Force of the Third Zone Theory: '9.2 Million Votes'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Ahead of the 21st general election, the "third zone" is once again attracting attention. The driving force behind the third zone theory is voters who feel a sense of rejection toward the two-party system centered on the Democratic Party of Korea and the Liberty Korea Party. Although the directions pursued by the Bareunmirae Party, the Party for Democracy and Peace, the Alternative New Party, and the New Conservative Party differ, they share a common denominator in seeking an alternative party to replace the two-party system.

In fact, the third zone has emerged as a variable in every election in the political arena. So far, third parties have been formed around presidential candidates capable of breaking the two-party dominance. However, they have commonly failed to sustain themselves over a long period and have disappeared into the annals of history. Representative examples include the Unification National Party founded by former Hyundai Group Chairman Chung Ju-yung (1992), the New Politics Reform Party founded by lawyer Park Chan-jong (1992), the United Liberal Democrats founded by Chairman Kim Jong-pil (1995), the People's New Party founded by former National Assembly Speaker Lee Man-seop and former lawmaker Lee In-je (1997), the National Integration 21 founded by former lawmaker Chung Mong-joon (2002), and the Creative Korea Party founded by former Yuhan-Kimberly CEO Moon Guk-hyun (2007).

Especially notable is former People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo, who emerged during the 2012 presidential election. At that time, Ahn was a third zone candidate threatening Park Geun-hye of the Saenuri Party and Moon Jae-in of the Democratic United Party, but he ultimately withdrew during unification talks with Moon. The third zone theory was reignited during the 20th general election in 2016. Ahead of the April 13 general election, Ahn left the New Politics Alliance for Democracy and founded the People's Party. The People's Party secured 38 seats in the election, establishing itself as the de facto third-largest party in the National Assembly. However, the People's Party no longer exists today. It has split into the Bareunmirae Party, the Party for Democracy and Peace, and the Alternative Political Alliance, dreaming of another political realignment.

The destructive power of the third zone was also proven in the 2017 presidential election. In the 19th presidential election, the combined votes for Ahn Cheol-soo (6,998,342 votes) and Yoo Seung-min (2,208,771 votes) totaled 9,207,113 votes (28.17%). Nearly 10 million voters cast their ballots for presidential candidates representing the third zone. However, after the presidential election, the status of third zone political forces weakened. Their defeat in the 7th nationwide local elections in 2018 clearly exposed the limitations of the third zone.

With the general election just over four months away, the third zone is once again stirring. At the center of this is former leader Ahn, who recently declared his return to politics, and the Bareunmirae Party. Attention is focused on whether the third zone big tent, advocating centrism and reform, can gain momentum as Ahn effectively distances himself from Yoo Seung-min’s New Conservative Party faction.

On the 2nd, Ahn stated on Facebook, "I have deeply considered whether it is right to start politics again," adding, "If our people have called me back to the path of politics and guided me, now I want to move forward toward the future together with the people." He continued, "I will now return and discuss how to change politics and how the Republic of Korea should move toward the future," and said, "Even if it is a lonely path, I will walk the path while cherishing the hearts of the people who called me."

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