Lee Chan-yeol Leaving Bareunmirae Party, Likely to Join Liberty Korea Party

Returning to Original Party After Circling Progressive and Moderate Camps
Meeting with Hwang Kyo-ahn... Likely to Express Intention to Rejoin Party

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyemin and Im Chunhan] On the afternoon of the 6th, Rep. Lee Chan-yeol, who left the Bareunmirae Party, will meet with Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party. It is widely expected that he has effectively confirmed his entry into the Korea Party. Having started his political career in the Grand National Party (the predecessor of the Korea Party), he has shifted between progressive and centrist positions, and is now returning to his original party.

Rep. Lee will have a meeting with Leader Hwang at the National Assembly at 2:30 p.m. that day. It is highly likely that he will express his intention to rejoin the Korea Party at this meeting. A representative from Rep. Lee’s side said, "We were contacted by the Korea Party to meet, so we arranged this meeting," adding, "It will likely be an occasion to officially announce his entry into the Korea Party."

Rep. Lee entered politics in 1998 as a candidate for the Grand National Party in the local elections. Since then, his political path has been closely linked with Son Hak-kyu, leader of the Bareunmirae Party. Classified as part of the Son Hak-kyu faction, Rep. Lee moved to the United Democratic Party along with Son when the latter left the Grand National Party in 2007. In the 2009 by-elections, he entered the National Assembly with Son’s full support. He was a close aide who accompanied Son through all his political moves, including leaving the Democratic Party, joining the People’s Party, and merging into the Bareunmirae Party.

Now that he has declared a break with Leader Son and is set to return to the Korea Party, many speculations have arisen about his reasons. Especially since his constituency, Suwon Gap, is strongly Democratic Party-leaning, joining the Korea Party does not necessarily guarantee electoral advantage. Regarding this, a representative from Rep. Lee’s side said, "There will be an opportunity to speak before the entry ceremony. Please wait."

At the time of leaving the Bareunmirae Party, Rep. Lee said, "Three years ago, when I joined the People’s Party, the predecessor of the Bareunmirae Party, I devoted myself wholeheartedly with urgency and earnestness for the party’s development, but now it seems to have reached its limit," adding, "I sincerely hope that all of this will be understood as my political decision."

If Rep. Lee transfers his party affiliation to the Korea Party, the party’s number of seats will become 109.

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