[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The third meeting of the Innovation Integration Promotion Committee (IIPC), which is pushing for the unification of the moderate conservative camp, was held on the 16th. On this day, participants opposed the New Conservative Party's demand for a separate consultative body for 'party-to-party integration,' stating that "the New Conservative Party side must provide an explanation."

Lee Gap-san, the standing representative of the Pan-Civil Society Coalition, criticized the New Conservative Party at the meeting, saying, "If each party dispatches representatives to the IIPC but then discusses integration issues outside, it is like shaking a tree after placing it on a branch," and added, "Even though an official announcement was made after the meeting, as I just mentioned, suddenly talking about party-to-party integration?what is going on?" The day before, the New Conservative Party had requested the establishment of a separate consultative body to discuss party-to-party integration with the Liberty Korea Party.

Lee said, "Integration should be discussed here; it is not right to discuss it outside," and pointed out, "Even if it happens, matters between parties should be done secretly, and official matters should be fully integrated here."

Professor Kim Geun-sik of Gyeongnam National University, affiliated with the Ahn Cheol-soo faction, criticized, "We are cautiously gathering integration discussions, but after the second meeting, when one-third of the IIPC members demanded resignation, the New Conservative Party must clearly explain why they proposed having a separate body to discuss party-to-party integration," adding, "The IIPC members come to the committee, make all their demands, and then turn around to propose a one-on-one integration with another party leader."

Regarding the resignation of three members?Ahn Hyeong-hwan, Kim Eun-hye, and Shin Yong-han?the committee emphasized it was to demonstrate the purity of the integration process. New Conservative Party lawmaker Jeong Un-cheon said, "This is to ensure that the IIPC genuinely gains public sympathy and proceeds with clear and substantial grand integration," and added, "It is not that the IIPC is faltering; rather, it is because the committee is completing its proper formation and preparing to proceed with full discussions."

Chairman Park Hyung-joon said, "Yesterday, 6,000 professors held rallies and protests expressing serious concern that the current Republic of Korea is experiencing a constitutional crisis. Even progressive-leaning judges are criticizing the destruction of the rule of law," and added, "I have received countless personal messages urging that integration must be achieved. The great current of integration can no longer be turned back."

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