Hong Moon-jong: "If the Korean Party and the New Conservative Party merge, they will unify with us... Park would probably think the same"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] Hong Moon-jong, co-representative of the Our Republican Party, said on the 10th, "If the Liberty Korea Party merges with the New Conservative Party, there is a high possibility of a second-stage merger with us," adding, "It seems that former President Park Geun-hye might think the same way."

Co-representative Hong appeared on tbs's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' that morning and stated, "The merger between the Liberty Korea Party and the New Conservative Party will happen in some form."

Regarding why Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, cannot publicly promise Yoo Seung-min of the New Conservative Party's 'Three Principles for Conservative Reconstruction,' he said, "We are still discussing (merger) with the Our Republican Party, so it is a situation where (the three principles) cannot be publicly stated." He claimed that neither former President Park Geun-hye's message nor the Our Republican Party or the Taegukgi faction have publicly declared this in order to unite all forces. Co-representative Hong said, "(If publicly declared) it would become difficult for former President Park Geun-hye to send the message that 'we must all unite and move forward.'"

He said that through the Innovation Integration Promotion Committee, the merger with the Our Republican Party after the merger between the Liberty Korea Party and the New Conservative Party is a "natural step." Co-representative Hong said, "If we enter (the Innovation Integration Committee), negotiations themselves will not be possible, so we are having many talks behind the scenes." Regarding the possibility of backlash from the New Conservative Party side if merger discussions with the Our Republican Party begin after the merger, he claimed, "Once we receive shares, they will keep quiet."

Co-representative Hong said, "Although former President Park is not currently sending messages, as the president of the entire Republic of Korea, I don't think she would simply abandon those who are conservative right-wingers with differing views," adding, "I think former President Park is also considering the second-stage merger."

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