Alternative New Party Promoting 'Third Zone Integration'... Sohn Hak-kyu Says "Don't Think Too Hastily"

Peace Party Targets Alternative New Party: "Must Apologize to the People"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] On the 16th, the Alternative New Party proposed the formation of a roundtable with the Bareunmirae Party and the Democratic Peace Party before the Lunar New Year holiday, emphasizing the integration of the third zone.

Choi Kyung-hwan, leader of the Alternative New Party, paid consecutive courtesy visits to Sohn Hak-kyu, leader of the Bareunmirae Party, and Chung Dong-young, leader of the Peace Party, at the National Assembly that morning.

Meeting with Sohn, Leader Choi said, "How great could the People’s Party, which led the 'Park Geun-hye impeachment' four years ago, have been if it were united now?" He added, "Failure is the mother of success. A healthy and strong third force is needed to develop democratic politics based on multi-party agreements and to create a working National Assembly."

Leader Choi added, "I believe that in the second half of the Moon Jae-in administration, the 4+1 expanded system and a more concrete system will inevitably operate."

Leader Sohn said, "The Bareunmirae Party fully agrees on the importance of unifying the third zone," adding, "We must not allow old-fashioned politics to be repeated through shifting alliances or be criticized as a revival of regional politics."

Leader Sohn said, "We have started dialogues with various groups such as youth and women regarding political generational change, and I think it is right to proceed with integration discussions based on that," adding, "Leader Choi hopes to create a roundtable before the Lunar New Year, but I think we should not rush."

Right after the visit, Leader Sohn told reporters, "Integration will be difficult before the Lunar New Year," adding, "We are making individual contacts."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Leader Choi visited Leader Chung and said, "The Alternative New Party and the Peace Party have criticized the power struggle politics of the two major parties and hostile symbiotic politics, but the people also criticize the division of the centrist reform forces scattered everywhere," adding, "It is time to shake off painful memories and grudges and make a political decision."

Yoo Sung-yeop, chairman of the Alternative New Party’s Integration Promotion Committee, also said, "I think we need to make a bold decision while recalling the old saying, 'United we live, divided we die.'"

Leader Chung said, "The reform spirit of Honam has led, supported, and served as a beacon for Korea’s reform," adding, "I hope the Peace Party and the Alternative New Party will unite and actively cooperate and coordinate to tackle housing prices, land prices, and real estate, which are the causes of the suffering of ordinary people and the despair of youth."

Jo Bae-sook, floor leader of the Peace Party, said, "Looking at us now, we are scattered. The reason is that we failed to think about tomorrow and made wrong judgments, for which we must apologize to the people," adding, "If we fail to achieve harmony, we will become sinners of history."

Right after the visit, Leader Choi told reporters, "Regarding the Alternative New Party’s proposal to 'specifically create something to present to the people before the Lunar New Year,' Leader Chung and Floor Leader Jo said they would 'discuss it and respond.'"

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