Alternative New Party Calling for Third Zone Integration... The Biggest Variable is Ahn Cheol-soo

Choi Kyung-hwan Proposes Roundtable Meeting for Third-Force Integration
Son Hak-kyu: "Premise of Centrist Reform Forces Integration... Generational Change as Top Priority"
Return Scheduled This Week, Focus on Ahn

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The Alternative New Party has officially launched with the slogan of 'Third Zone Integration.' Choi Kyung-hwan, leader of the Alternative New Party, proposed the formation of a roundtable meeting to promote the integration of the third force with the Bareunmirae Party and the Party for Democracy and Peace. However, the judgment on former Bareunmirae Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo remains reserved. Ultimately, Ahn, who is scheduled to return to Korea this week, has emerged as the biggest variable in the third zone integration.

Son Hak-kyu, leader of the Bareunmirae Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting on the 13th, "I believe that the integration of the third force should change the political structure of our country," but also pointed out, "If the discussion on third zone integration ends up creating another political force in a specific region, it will be a repetition of old-fashioned politics." He added, "If the integration is premised on the unification of centrist reform forces rather than regionalism, and generational change is set as the top priority, I am willing to participate in integration discussions at any time."

The Bareunmirae Party's principle is 'First (선) Ahn Cheol-soo and the future generation, then (후) integration.' They intend to focus first on the union of former leader Ahn and the future generation and then promote third zone integration. In this context, the Bareunmirae Party cannot hastily establish relations with the Alternative New Party until Ahn's official position is announced. This is because Ahn previously experienced severe conflicts with Honam region lawmakers who split off to the Party for Democracy and Peace during the Bareunmirae Party's founding process. The resentment still remains.

At a press briefing the day before, Leader Choi said, "It is true that many people have doubts about Ahn's political orientation and the political abilities he has shown in the past political process," and added, "We will observe what thoughts he has upon returning and how he settles into politics before making a judgment."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Recently, there was also a verbal exchange between Park Ji-won, a lawmaker of the Alternative New Party, and a close aide of former leader Ahn. On the 10th, Park said on BBS Buddhist Broadcasting radio, "There are still people who remember the Ahn Cheol-soo phenomenon, so he has considerable influence, but it will be a storm in a teacup." In response, former Chief Secretary Kim Do-sik criticized, "If the purpose is to entertain the public with hearsay-level remarks, it would be better to retire now and become a professional broadcaster."

In political circles, the likelihood of Ahn Cheol-soo's return to the Bareunmirae Party is gradually increasing. After delivering a New Year's message to Bareunmirae Party members on the 8th, Ahn also sent a congratulatory message to the book launch event of Park Joo-sun, a Bareunmirae Party lawmaker. Park is a leading figure of the party's pro-leadership faction and a representative Honam region lawmaker. In his congratulatory message on the 12th, Ahn said, "Lawmaker Park is a representative politician of Honam whom the late former President Kim Dae-jung called 'someone who will write history with me.'"

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