Ha Tae-kyung: "Hwang Kyo-ahn Effectively Accepts 3 Major Principles... Start of Dialogue Between United Two Parties"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Ha Tae-kyung, co-leader of the New Conservative Party, announced on the 13th that he views Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, as having effectively accepted the New Conservative Party's three principles for integration, and that he will begin dialogue between the two parties for unification.

At the National Assembly Press Hall on the same day, Ha stated, "The agreement reached between Leader Hwang and the Liberty Korea Party's Supreme Council is an acceptance of the New Conservative Party's three principles, which I evaluate as a step forward for conservative reconstruction and innovative integration."

Earlier that morning, at the Supreme Council meeting, Leader Hwang emphasized, "With the launch of the Innovation Integration Promotion Committee (Tongchuwi), six norms for conservative-centrist integration, which we also agreed to, were established, and among them, the demands made by the New Conservative Party have been reflected," thereby expressing a de facto acceptance.

Ha said, "Going forward, we will closely monitor whether the Liberty Korea Party remains steadfast and adheres to the six principles, including the three principles for conservative reconstruction, and will begin dialogue between the two parties," adding, "Although I wish they would express their position more clearly, the content is included. By closely monitoring, I mean that there are factions within the Liberty Korea Party opposing innovative integration, so I urge the Liberty Korea Party and Leader Hwang to firmly declare their intention to proceed on the path of innovative integration based on the three principles for conservative reconstruction."

He continued, "The Innovation Integration Committee (Tongchuwi) is an advisory body that acts as a catalyst for innovative conservative integration, but its nature and role have not yet been clearly defined," adding, "If an agreement on its nature and role is reached in the future, we will actively consider withdrawing from it."

He indicated that if the Tongchuwi is defined as a body with binding authority beyond an advisory role, they would not participate. Ha emphasized, "We understand the Innovation Integration Committee as an advisory body with non-binding recommendations. However, it is necessary to confirm whether they share this view. While the committee aims to promote and successfully lead innovative conservative integration, since we are sending representatives, we want to reach a thorough agreement."

When asked by reporters if this amounted to a rejection of the Tongchuwi, he replied, "That is not the case," and added, "We can listen to good opinions through NGOs and others. They would also be curious about our position, wouldn't they?"

Regarding attendance at the Tongchuwi meeting scheduled for the 14th, he said, "It depends on whether an agreement on the nature and role between the Innovation Integration Committee and the New Conservative Party is reached from today until tomorrow," adding, "Since I have spoken, I hope they will respond."

Separately from consultations with the Tongchuwi, Ha plans to proceed with party-to-party dialogue with the Liberty Korea Party. He emphasized, "Dialogue with the Liberty Korea Party and dialogue with the Innovation Integration Committee are separate. From our perspective, the target of innovative integration is only the Liberty Korea Party, and the Innovation Integration Committee is an advisory body, so we are just going there to exchange opinions."

Regarding plans for dialogue between the two parties, he responded, "Nothing has been finalized; only the position to officially start dialogue has been decided." He also left open the possibility of party-to-party unification. On the new party being prepared by lawmakers Lee Eon-ju and Lee Jung-hyun, he dismissed it by saying, "Our unification target is only the Liberty Korea Party." He refrained from commenting on a unification deadline, saying it has not been discussed.

On the possibility of unification with the Ahn Cheol-soo faction, he said, "I am not excluding it, but the Ahn Cheol-soo faction must first clarify whether they will take the path of the opposition or become a third party," adding, "Their position must be established first, and no one knows whether the Ahn Cheol-soo faction will become a party or something else."

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