Son Hak-kyu "I will resign as party leader after unification with future generations"... Refuses to specify in party rules

"Serious Doubts About Integration as the Honam New Party"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Sohn Hak-kyu, leader of the Bareunmirae Party, expressed his refusal on the 14th regarding the 3-party integration promotion meeting discussing the inclusion of a deadline for the interim leadership term in the party constitution's supplementary provisions, set for the 28th. He said, "How backward is our country's politics that they put quitting the leadership into the party constitution's supplementary provisions," and added, "It is lowering the dignity of politics by ourselves."

After the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Sohn told reporters, "My ultimate goal is integration with the future generation, and once that is achieved, I will step down as party leader," adding, "I think that will be completed by February."

He stated, "There is negative public opinion about our integration as the Honam New Party, and among the younger generation, there are even talks of not integrating with the Honam New Party," and added, "We need to fundamentally reconsider this issue."

He continued, "The most important tasks of this general election are political structure reform and generational change," and added, "There is a very big question as to whether we can guarantee victory in the general election if we integrate as the Honam New Party and end up becoming the Honam Party again."

Sohn criticized, "As the general election approaches, the old-fashioned politics of the two major parties are reaching a climax," and said, "The conservative unified party, which confirmed its party name as 'Mirae Tonghapdang' yesterday, decided to maintain the leadership system of Hwang Kyo-ahn until the general election, effectively becoming the Saenuri Party again."

Sohn said, "The ruling party, the Democratic Party, filed a complaint against Professor Im Mi-ri for writing a newspaper column critical of them," and added, "It means they will not allow the people the freedom to criticize government administration."

Sohn concluded, "As the evils of the two major parties reach their peak, the power of the pragmatic centrist forces should grow, but I feel a heavy responsibility for the reality that this is not happening."

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