Yoo Seung-min Absent from Inauguration Ceremony... Role Debate: Co-Head of Election Committee or Running in Difficult District

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The United Future Party, which brought together moderate conservatives, officially launched on the 17th, but it turned into a "half-hearted celebration" as Yoo Seung-min, former chairman of the Conservative Reconstruction Committee of the New Conservative Party who played a key role in the integration, did not attend. Regarding Yoo's role, former Liberty Korea Party lawmakers are demanding he run in difficult districts, while the New Conservative Party side insists that reform should come first, causing a significant divide.

Lee Jun-seok, a member of the New Conservative Party representing the party and serving as a Supreme Council member of the United Future Party, explained the background of Yoo's absence from the integration event on the 18th on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus," saying, "It is true that Yoo had somewhat negative views about this form of integration."

The conservative camp, which has been working on the integration since last month, completed the process by launching the United Future Party with 113 seats yesterday, but Yoo did not attend the event. Since he declared he would not run on the 9th and had been effectively in seclusion, his absence was expected, but it is also analyzed as an expression of his discomfort with the integration.

This also reveals the uncomfortable relationship between Yoo and Hwang Kyo-ahn, the leader of the United Future Party. After announcing the push for conservative grand unification last November, Hwang called Yoo saying, "Let's meet to discuss the integration in detail," but they have never met even once. Just before the Lunar New Year, Hwang requested a meeting with Yoo but was rejected, and after the holiday, Yoo sent a text to Hwang proposing a meeting, but Hwang's side declined. A New Conservative Party official hinted, "There was hardly any exchange of texts or calls between the two."

Although the United Future Party has officially launched, there is a possibility of conflicts arising over nominations between newly joined figures and existing Liberty Korea Party members. Especially in Busan, where many conservative candidates compete, complaints are already emerging. Key party officials from Busan Jung and Yeongdo districts, formerly of the Liberty Korea Party, held a press conference on the 12th stating, "Conservative unification alone cannot guarantee election victory; harmony and integration at the local level must be achieved together. We cannot support suddenly announced candidates in the imminent election." This was aimed at Representative Lee Eon-ju, who is considered a strong candidate in the area. In Haeundae Gap, where Representative Ha Tae-kyung plans to run, conservative civic groups are voicing concerns.

Various opinions are also emerging regarding Yoo's role in this process. Within the United Future Party, there is talk of him serving as a co-chairman of the election committee, while former Liberty Korea Party lawmakers are demanding he run in difficult districts. Regarding this, Supreme Council member Lee dismissed the idea, saying, "It is hard to see as a sincere expression that those who have made aggressive remarks against Yoo or belittled reform conservative values until now are now hoping he will lead the metropolitan area elections by running in the metropolitan area."

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