'Creaking from Within: Conservative Unification'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The integration of centrist and conservative forces is showing signs of internal friction right after taking its first step. Despite opposition from the New Conservative Party, the Liberty Korea Party appointed the head of the nomination management committee. However, the Innovation and Integration Promotion Committee (Hyuktongwi) is losing momentum due to proposals for a bilateral consultative body and the resignation of some committee members.

On the 16th, Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, announced at the Supreme Council meeting held in the National Assembly main building, "We have appointed former National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyung-o as the head of the nomination management committee (Nomination Committee Chair)." He added, "We received over 6,000 candidate recommendations for the nomination committee chair from the public, formed a nomination committee recommendation panel, and went through a thorough verification and opinion-gathering process."

Earlier, the New Conservative Party hinted in a meeting with reporters that discussing nominations at this point could make integration difficult. Ha Tae-kyung, co-leader of the New Conservative Party, said after the party leadership and key officials' expanded meeting the day before, "Talking about nomination rules within the Liberty Korea Party is typical old-fashioned politics," and "It is not desirable for the two parties to discuss nomination rules concretely at this time."

The New Conservative Party plans to hold a leadership meeting to organize its internal stance on the Liberty Korea Party’s announcement. Rep. Jung Woon-cheon, representing the New Conservative Party in the Hyuktongwi, said, "We will attend the Hyuktongwi meetings for now, but the party’s official position will be decided after holding a leadership meeting." Amid expected conflicts between the New Conservative Party and the Liberty Korea Party over the nomination committee chair and nomination rules, Leader Hwang said, "We will proceed with integration talks carefully to avoid any noise," adding, "The future composition of the nomination committee could also be a subject of consultation."

The Hyuktongwi, which had emerged as the core of conservative integration, held its third meeting at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building on the same day to discuss the direction of conservative integration. However, before any substantial discussion could take place, the New Conservative Party requested the Liberty Korea Party the day before to form a bilateral consultative body, leading to talk of its 'uselessness.' This proposal to pursue a separate bilateral consultative body outside the Hyuktongwi channel contradicts the Liberty Korea Party’s previous stance that Hyuktongwi is the sole integration channel. Kim Geun-sik, a professor at Kyungnam University and an Ahn Cheol-soo faction figure, criticized, "While cautiously gathering integration discussions, proposing a party-to-party integration discussion body clearly requires an explanation."

Several members classified as part of the 'Pro-Lee (Pro-Lee Myung-bak) faction' within the Hyuktongwi also resigned en masse. Three members, including Ahn Hyung-hwan, secretary-general of the National Unity Coalition who served as the secretary, Kim Eun-hye, former special director of MBN and spokesperson, and Shin Yong-han, former youth committee chairman under the presidential office, decided to step down from their Hyuktongwi positions. Secretary-General Ahn is a founding member of the Pro-Lee faction’s parliamentary group 'Together Tomorrow,' and spokesperson Kim served as the Blue House spokesperson during the Lee Myung-bak administration.

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