Political Reform Alliance Urges Justice Party to Join, Saying It Will Gain Both Justification and Practical Benefits

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] With the participation of Miraedang in the Political Reform Alliance confirmed, Ha Seungsoo, the executive committee chairman, urged the Justice Party to join the electoral alliance party. Sim Sangjung, the leader of the Justice Party, has expressed that there will be no participation in satellite parties for proportional representation in any form.

On the 6th, at a meeting with the Miraedang delegation held at the Political Reform Alliance central office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Chairman Ha said, "Since sending a proposal to the Justice Party last Friday, we have been continuously communicating," and emphasized, "If the Justice Party participates in the alliance party, it will gain both legitimacy and practical benefits."

He explained, "Due to Mirae Korea Party, it has become difficult for the Justice Party to organize the originally intended organizations and groups," adding, "If the Justice Party participates as an alliance party, the seats that Mirae Korea Party would have taken will be occupied by the Justice Party and other small parties in the National Assembly, enabling the formation of a parliamentary negotiation group for progressive parties. This is something progressive parties in Korea have never achieved before."

Chairman Ha continued, "It is also advantageous practically. I think the Justice Party will probably reconsider once more," but added, "From the Justice Party’s perspective, progress in discussions will depend on how the Democratic Party of Korea will relinquish its vested interests." He further stated, "We are urging the Democratic Party to take a prompt stance and requesting the Justice Party to reconsider once again from the perspectives of legitimacy and practical benefits."

When asked what would happen if the Justice Party does not join the alliance party, Chairman Ha responded, "Since former President Park Geunhye’s prison letter, many concerns have grown. Politics is constantly changing, and the decision-making of political groups and parties can also change accordingly, so I hope people do not view the situation too rigidly," and added, "As I have continuously said, we will keep communicating and making efforts to persuade."

Oh Taeyang, co-representative of Miraedang, also said, "The Justice Party was a political force that led and focused on the mixed-member proportional representation system, so if it is a method to preserve the mixed-member proportional system, the Justice Party should rather take the lead in relinquishing its framework and vested interests and open the field to smaller political forces than itself," adding, "However, Leader Sim expressed that there are overall difficulties, which was regrettable."

Earlier that day, Leader Sim met with reporters at the National Assembly and said, "We will not participate in any form of satellite proportional parties that undermine the purpose of the mixed-member proportional representation system, and we should not do so." She continued, "Even if there are various unexpected variables or shameless acts by the United Future Party (such as the creation of the satellite party Mirae Korea Party), our party’s position is that we have the responsibility to make efforts to preserve the purpose of the mixed-member proportional representation system as much as possible."

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