Saebosu Party Also Joins First Negotiation Committee... "Values and Innovation Must Be Integrated" vs "Must Embrace Gwanghwamun Faction"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 9th, Yoo Seung-min, chairman of the Conservative Reconstruction Committee of the New Conservative Party, agreed to the merger, and from the 10th, the New Conservative Party officially joined the Preparatory Committee for the New Unified Party (Tongjunwi). However, there were slight differences in perception regarding the scope and content of the merger among the parties involved. There were also voices demanding that the Liberty Korea Party take a more proactive stance on the merger.

On the 10th, Jeong Byeong-guk, a committee member of the New Conservative Party, participated in the Tongjunwi meeting held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building and said, "The unified party that the people want is a unity that defeats the Moon Jae-in government," adding, "It must be a morally clean, warm, and practically excellent conservative, a reformist conservative, and for the unity to win, it must be a unity of values, not just scale."

He said, " I apologize for not being able to join from the beginning," acknowledging the late joining as "a difficult and challenging effort to achieve a greater unity together." He continued, "The Bareun Party, which emphasized values, merged 150 days before the election, and the Bareunmirae Party merged 120 days before the election, but they ended in factionalism and hegemony due to being obsessed with the election," adding, "To avoid repeating this failure, we need to review the three major principles proposed by the New Conservative Party and the six major principles agreed upon by the Korea Party and the centrist coalition."

However, Lee Eon-ju, former representative of Forward 4.0, who continued the remarks, said, "The most important thing for the merger is the Gwanghwamun spirit," and stated, "Although only some forces were active in Gwanghwamun, after the Cho Kuk incident, a wide range of anti-Moon forces gathered in Gwanghwamun, from Our Republican Party to defectors from the Democratic Party," showing a difference in perception. This means including Our Republican Party, which the New Conservative Party does not consider a merger target, in the merger.

Lee emphasized, "The remaining task for us is for comrades, including the Liberty Unification Party, who fought together in Gwanghwamun but could not join this place, to join promptly," and "Also, whether a strong and alternative opposition party with a completely changed constitution, as the Gwanghwamun spirit talks about, can emerge." The Liberty Unification Party is also centered around the Taegeukgi faction and is classified as far-right conservative.

Jang Gi-pyo, chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the People's Voice Party, said, "The first stage of the merger has been achieved, but the harsh reality is that the unified party is not inspiring," emphasizing, "From now on, the Preparatory Committee for the Unified Party must innovate in a way that truly inspires." He explained, "Everyone must make concessions, but there must be bold concessions from the Korea Party, which can be considered the largest party," adding, "If that happens, the Korea Party will not suffer losses but will enjoy the greatest benefits."

Former Supreme Council member of the Bareunmirae Party, Moon Byung-ho, also said, "We cannot win if we are rebranded as the old Saenuri Party or the old Liberty Korea Party," adding, "The people will only vote if there is new innovative candidate selection, and the Korea Party must take a more proactive stance."

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