The Naming of the Unified New Party Intensifies... Hwang Kyo-ahn and Yoo Seung-min Meeting Faces Last-Minute Difficulties

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The conservative camp is preparing to establish a new name for the unified party and is moving forward with full-scale integration preparations. However, the meeting between Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, and Yoo Seung-min, chairman of the Conservative Rebuilding Committee of the New Conservative Party?key figures in the conservative unification?is currently facing last-minute difficulties. This indicates that significant differences in perception remain regarding sensitive issues such as the scope of unification and the impeachment matter.

Ha Tae-kyung, co-representative of the New Conservative Party, said to reporters after attending the party leadership-youth joint meeting held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 4th, "We will proceed with negotiations on the new party name with the Liberty Korea Party," adding, "Since the Liberty Korea Party prefers 'Unified New Party,' our party will also consider it."

Earlier, on the 3rd, the Liberty Korea Party held a closed supreme council meeting and decided on the new party name as 'Unified New Party.' Supreme Council Member Jung Mi-kyung told reporters immediately after the meeting, "We have reached a consensus on the party name as Unified New Party." During the meeting, other proposals such as 'Grand Unified New Party' were also discussed, but it was ultimately decided to go with Unified New Party.

The Innovation and Integration Promotion Committee (IIPC), which is pushing for centrist-conservative unification, collected opinions from the Liberty Korea Party, the New Conservative Party, and the Party for Progress 4.0, and requested the Liberty Korea Party Secretariat to draft a preliminary proposal. Based on this draft, the soon-to-be-launched new party founding preparation committee will finalize the party name. The IIPC is currently discussing the personnel composition, including the chairman, aiming to launch the Unified New Party Preparation Committee on the 6th.

However, for the launch of the Unified New Party, negotiations between the core unification parties?the Liberty Korea Party and the New Conservative Party?are essential. Initially, a meeting between Chairman Yoo and Leader Hwang was expected to take place between the 4th and 5th, but Yoo stated, "It will take some time," indicating anticipated difficulties. It is also explained that even if they meet, the meeting is likely to be held privately. Co-representative Ha also said, "I only know that Chairman Yoo and Leader Hwang will meet this week, but I do not know the detailed schedule."

The biggest issue is how the two will overcome their differences in perception regarding the scope of unification. Leader Hwang is advocating a 'big tent' approach that includes forces classified as far-right, such as the Our Republican Party, while Chairman Yoo insists, "We must cross the river of impeachment," drawing a line against the Our Republican Party. Additionally, both the Liberty Korea Party and the New Conservative Party are separately forming candidate management committees, and the Liberty Korea Party has nominated Han Sun-kyo, a four-term pro-Park member of the Future Korea Party?a satellite party for proportional representation?as its representative, which could become a variable in future unification discussions.

It is also uncertain whether the New Conservative Party will participate in the Unified New Party founding preparation committee. Co-representative Ha stated, "Legally, a founding preparation committee is not necessary for a new merger between two parties. This is clearly stated in Article 19 of the Political Parties Act," adding, "There is no need to create something unnecessary. Even if the IIPC forms a founding preparation committee, it is not a legal preparatory body."

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