Hwang Kyo-ahn Urges Some 'Non-Candidacy' Lawmakers to Defect to Mirae Korea Party

Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, and Shim Jae-cheol, floor leader, along with other party leadership, are attending the joint meeting of the Supreme Council and senior lawmakers held at the National Assembly on the 29th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hye-min] Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, urged lawmakers who declared they would not run for re-election to join the satellite party for proportional representation, the Future Korea Party (tentative name). The plan is to have as many incumbent lawmakers as possible transfer their party affiliation to the Future Korea Party, aiming to place it second on the party ballot in the April 15 general election.

On the morning of the 29th, after the joint meeting of the Supreme Council and senior lawmakers at the National Assembly, Hwang told reporters, "Discussions are currently underway," revealing this fact. However, he added, "Since we have to ask those who have devoted themselves to the party to continue their dedication, it is not an easy matter," and said, "We are continuing discussions regarding (party affiliation transfers)."

Hwang held one-on-one meetings with lawmakers Kim Young-woo and Yoo Min-bong, who declared they would not run for re-election the day before, discussing the role of the Future Korea Party, including this matter. It is reported that he also met with other lawmakers who decided not to run and requested party affiliation changes.

Lawmaker Kim said, "There was no (direct) content about party affiliation changes," but added, "There was a discussion about the value establishment and role of the Future Korea Party." He conveyed to Leader Hwang that "the Future Korea Party should not be a mere subsidiary or rubber-stamp party of the Korea Party, but an independent yet cooperative party, so that it can absorb conservative and moderate voters who hesitate to firmly support the Korea Party."

Hwang's request for lawmakers who declared they would not run to join the Future Korea Party aims to make the Future Korea Party the third-largest party in the National Assembly, following the Democratic Party and the Korea Party. Currently, the third-largest party is the Bareunmirae Party with 20 seats, so more incumbent lawmakers must defect to the Future Korea Party by the proportional representation candidate registration deadline on March 27.

The Future Korea Party, which openly promotes itself as the sister party of the Korea Party, recently completed the establishment of five city and provincial party branches (Daegu City Party, Busan City Party, Gyeongbuk Provincial Party, Ulsan City Party, Gyeongnam Provincial Party), fulfilling the conditions for founding a central party. It plans to officially launch in early next month.

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