Conservative Unification, Still the 'Park Geun-hye Dilemma'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Although conservative unification is being pursued, the dilemma of former President Park Geun-hye remains a challenge.

Hong Moon-jong, co-representative of the Our Republican Party, appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 23rd and said regarding the unification discussions, "The basic starting points are different. Our Republican Party's stance is 'Let's question those who want to move on without addressing the impeachment issue.'"

He continued, "Representative Yoo Seung-min says, 'What wrong did I do with the impeachment? I did the impeachment correctly, and I still stand by that conviction.' Because of this, we cannot stand together at the starting line."

However, he believed that after the Liberty Korea Party and the New Conservative Party merge, unification would be possible. Co-representative Hong said, "Once these people unite, they have no other thoughts. Only winning matters. Right now, they talk about principles and this and that, but when the time comes, they will be too busy looking out for themselves to discuss 'principles' or what is acceptable or not. That's what I think."

The Liberty Korea Party maintains the position of creating a so-called 'big tent' to unite the conservative camp broadly. The New Conservative Party distances itself from the Our Republican Party, which supports former President Park. They have set the principle of 'crossing the river of impeachment,' which the Liberty Korea Party accepted, but it remains a latent source of conflict.

For the New Conservative Party, allying with forces that deny the impeachment would shake their identity. If the unification ends with only the Liberty Korea Party and the New Conservative Party, the Our Republican Party will criticize them for 'abandoning former President Park,' which could lead to some voter defection. There is also a possibility that former President Park may issue a message from prison before the election.

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