The Expanding Big Tent of Hwang... Will Yoo Seung-min, Hong Joon-pyo, and Ahn Cheol-soo Join?

Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, is greeting Sohn Kyung-shik, chairman of the Korea Employers Federation, at the 2020 New Year's Meeting for Small and Medium Business Owners held on the 6th at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporters Lee Ji-eun and Kim Hye-min] As Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, has formalized the formation of the Integration Promotion Committee (Tongchuwi), efforts are underway to include not only new parties such as the New Conservative Party led by Representative Yoo Seung-min, the National Integration Alliance centered on former leader Hong Joon-pyo, and Forward 4.0 led by Representative Lee Eon-ju, but also the Uri Party, classified as 'far-right,' within the 'big tent.' However, skepticism remains about whether they can truly unite due to differing views among integration parties on impeachment, innovation, and perceptions of nomination privileges.

On the 7th, Oh Shin-hwan, co-leader of the New Conservative Party, appeared on BBS Radio's 'Lee Sang-hwi's Morning Journal,' emphasizing that "sacrifice and innovation must accompany the integration of the conservative camp," and stressed that the integration should proceed on the premise that the Integration Promotion Committee is established in a third zone. Earlier, Leader Hwang was reviewing acceptance of the three major principles proposed by Representative Yoo as prerequisites for integration (crossing the river of impeachment, reform conservatism, and tearing down the old house to build a new one), with an announcement expected as early as that day. In the afternoon, he planned to meet with Ha Tae-kyung, responsible leader of the New Conservative Party, to discuss integration-related matters.

However, the New Conservative Party's stance is that the integration process is more important than the integration itself. Regarding the conservative integration, Representative Oh said, "I think the integration parties should first deeply consider what they will give up and what sacrifices they will endure,"

"If integration is done by weighing pros and cons this time, I believe it will not last long," he added.

Earlier on the 6th, Leader Hwang formalized the formation of the Integration Promotion Committee and announced plans to join hands with various parties classified within the liberal democratic camp. The door to integration was opened not only to the New Conservative Party but also to new parties such as Forward 4.0, the National Integration Alliance, and the Small Business Party. The Uri Party, considered far-right, is also included as a target for integration. Cho Won-jin, co-leader of the Uri Party, told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "We will have a meeting between the Korean Party and working-level officials this afternoon," adding, "At this meeting, we will convey our stance on the integration method, and the decision on whether to join the Integration Promotion Committee will also be made then."

Additionally, Leader Hwang planned to emphasize the importance of integration at New Year's gatherings attended by many senior conservatives, including the 'Republic of Korea Constitution Association,' a group of former National Assembly members, and the Liberal Democratic National Alliance. The National Integration Alliance led by former leader Hong also held a joint meeting of political parties and civic groups for centrist-conservative integration at the Press Center that afternoon, with busy integration discussions underway ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. With less than 100 days remaining until the general election, there is a shared recognition that integration must proceed as quickly as possible to capture public sentiment at the Lunar New Year dinner tables.

However, it remains uncertain whether differences among integration parties can be narrowed during the integration process. The Uri Party has expressed that "integration with traitors who supported impeachment is impossible," and the reformist New Conservative Party also emphasizes "innovation," making it likely that if Leader Hwang embraces far-right forces such as Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon or the Uri Party, they may not participate in the integration. Ahn Hyung-hwan, secretary-general of the National Integration Alliance, pointed out, "The fact that the Korean Party is proposing the Integration Promotion Committee shows their intention to take the lead, doesn't it? I doubt whether the New Conservative Party or major centrist conservatives will participate."

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