The Third Zone's Political Realignment Surges... Started the Engine but Faces 'Dong-sang-sam-mong'

Variables Including Son Hak-kyu's Position and Ahn Cheol-soo's Return

Son Hak-kyu, leader of the Bareunmirae Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting and expanded executive meeting held at the National Assembly on the 10th, delivering a speech./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] "I believe that we will eventually go together, but for now, securing the core forces of centrist reform and establishing a new political force led by the future generation must come first." (Son Hak-kyu, leader of the Bareunmirae Party)

With the return of former Bareunmirae Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo imminent, the third zone political realignment is rapidly emerging. The Bareunmirae Party, the Party for Democracy and Peace, and the Alternative New Party (tentative name) have all officially hinted at integration in the third zone. In political circles, while the third zone theory has started ahead of next year's general election, the prevailing view is that there is still a long way to go.

The situation is complicated, starting with the Bareunmirae Party, the focal point of the third zone, intertwined with Leader Son's position. Leader Son intends to negotiate directly with former lawmaker Ahn regarding his own future. A source from Son's side told Asia Economy on the 10th, "(Leader Son) cannot and will not endure alone in the leadership position when the majority wants otherwise," adding, "He will have a deep conversation when former lawmaker Ahn arrives." For now, the party leadership faction has agreed not to raise the issue of Son's resignation until Ahn returns.

Within the party, Leader Son and the Honam faction have different visions for the third zone. Leader Son focuses on recruiting new figures and plans to integrate later with the Party for Democracy and Peace and the Alternative New Party. This approach is to avoid criticism that the party is just the 'People's Party or Honam Party' again. On the other hand, Honam lawmakers are advocating for immediate integration and coalition.

Whether former lawmaker Ahn returns to the Bareunmirae Party is also expected to be a variable. Although Ahn sent a New Year's message to party members on the 8th, the possibility of an independent path such as founding a new party cannot be ruled out at this point. Ahn's return is expected before the 19th, his father's birthday.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Party for Democracy and Peace, while supporting the third zone theory, also criticized former lawmaker Ahn and the Alternative New Party. On the 7th, Jeong Dong-young, leader of the Party for Democracy and Peace, said, "If former lawmaker Ahn had not split the party, the one-on-one structure between the Democratic Party and the People's Party would have been reproduced, and he probably regrets it himself," adding, "Also, there were those who split the party without justification in August last year. They will realize how wrong that decision was when they look back now."

The Alternative New Party is sending all-out love calls. On the 6th, Yoo Sung-yeop, chairman of the Alternative New Party's founding committee, stated, "Our Alternative New Party always keeps its doors wide open."

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