Park Hyung-jun "Even if Yoo Seung-min Does Not Attend the National Report... The Will to Integrate the New Conservative Party Remains Strong" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Yoo Seung-min, chairman of the Conservative Reconstruction Committee of the New Conservative Party, who hinted at an 'electoral alliance' and voiced opinions contrary to the flow of the unified new conservative party, has decided not to attend the first public report of the Innovation Integration Promotion Committee (IIPC). Although the New Conservative Party has not reached a consensus on integration, Park Hyung-joon, chairman of the IIPC, stated, "The New Conservative Party's will for integration remains strong."

After the 10th IIPC meeting on the 30th, Chairman Park told reporters, "Hatakeyama, co-representative, will directly participate in tomorrow's public report meeting," adding, "The will for integration (of the New Conservative Party) is definite."

Before the meeting, in his opening remarks, Jung Woon-cheon, co-representative of the New Conservative Party, said, "The New Conservative Party and the Liberty Korea Party are conducting confidential party-to-party consultations, and once that process is completed, Chairman Yoo may attend," confirming Hatakeyama's participation. Earlier, the IIPC had dismissed the possibility of an electoral alliance hinted at by Chairman Yoo and demanded party-level attendance at the first public report meeting scheduled for the 31st.

In response, the New Conservative Party stated, "We are still conducting party-to-party consultations with the Liberty Korea Party," and decided that only those attending the IIPC as members, including Co-representatives Hatakeyama and Jung, would participate in the report meeting.

The absence of Chairman Yoo, the party's focal point, is analyzed to be due to the party's stance on integration not yet being decided. Chairman Park said, "(The New Conservative Party side) conveyed that it is difficult to decide as a party by today but will respond in the near future," adding, "It is correct that the New Conservative Party participates at the party level, but the party consensus on integration has not yet been reached." Regarding the possibility of an electoral alliance hinted at by Chairman Yoo, he dismissed it, saying, "We have not discussed it."

The New Conservative Party is also reportedly preparing for its own candidate nomination process, including narrowing down the public nomination committee chairpersons to four times the number. Chairman Park said, "I have not heard anything from the New Conservative Party side," but added, "I understand it as an unavoidable scheduling issue like the Liberty Korea Party."

Meanwhile, voices warning against division within the conservative camp were raised at the meeting. Lee Gap-san, standing representative of the Pan-Citizen Coalition, said, "The conservatives are discussing integration now, but I see divisions starting everywhere," appealing, "Please stop divisive actions and achieve great victory for the conservatives in this general election through grand integration." Additionally, declarations of support and participation were made by key executives of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the Pan-Citizen Social Organizations Coalition (253 groups), and the Pan-Conservative Coalition (95 groups).

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