Park Hyung-jun "The Innovation Committee Will Move Steadily... What Ahn Cheol-soo Pursues Is the Same as Ours"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Park Hyung-jun, chairman of the Innovation Integration Promotion Committee (IIPC), which is leading the conservative-centrist integration, has effectively rejected the resignation demand from the New Conservative Party side. He sent a love call to former People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo, saying "we share the same goals."

On the 17th, Chairman Park stated on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' "(The New Conservative Party) demanded my resignation, but if integration is achieved, I am willing not only to resign but also to enter a cage," expressing this stance.

He said, "I am not doing this for personal political gain, and many citizens are genuinely worried about the country," adding, "We are all jumping in with the intention of setting the country right, so treating this like a common political dispute is, in my view, undesirable. Any claims or demands can be made, but the IIPC will steadily move forward." Earlier, the New Conservative Party repeatedly demanded Chairman Park's resignation and the formation of a two-party consultative body with the Liberty Korea Party as preconditions for conservative integration discussions.

Chairman Park emphasized, "We do not oppose consultations between parties," and said, "If integration is achieved through behind-the-scenes negotiations or various methods between parties, it is not a bad thing, and I am rather helping with that now."

He pointed out, "If an official consultative body is formed and integration is made to appear as if it is only between the Liberty Korea Party and the New Conservative Party, other participating civil society forces or parties pushing for integration will naturally question why it is only a two-party integration," adding, "There are also centrist forces that will participate in the future, so from that perspective, the consultative body seems to weaken the IIPC."

Regarding the possibility of defections from the New Conservative Party, he said, "We must prevent the collapse of the process. Since everyone is already on the integration train, those who jump off the train will become forces opposing the great will of the people," and added, "I believe no one will dare to recklessly jump off this integration train."

On the possibility of integration with former leader Ahn, he referred to past integration discussions such as the Kim Young-sam?Roh Tae-woo merger and the Roh Moo-hyun?Chung Mong-joon candidate period, emphasizing the need for integration by saying, "Anyone can see there are differences in identity, but integration can produce tremendous synergy."

He said, "I have a somewhat different view on whether going as an independent new party, Ahn Cheol-soo's independent new party, is a wise choice regarding former leader Ahn's political path," adding, "The content of former leader Ahn's contribution article is completely aligned with what we are pursuing now."

Regarding the Our Republican Party, he said, "We are not currently discussing joining together," adding, "First, the forces agreeing on the six principles should integrate, and then discussions on solidarity or further integration can be pursued as the next task."

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