With the General Election One Month Away... Minsaeng Party's Internal Conflicts Escalate

Heated Arguments at Closed Senior Meeting
Proportional Representation Nomination Rules Are Major Issue
Barunmiraedang Faction's 'No Re-election for Proportional Representatives'
Strong Opposition from Minjupyeonghwa Party Faction

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] With the April 15 general election just over a month away, the Minsaeng Party has yet to begin election preparations due to internal conflicts. Differences remain unresolved among party leadership regarding participation in the proportional representation coalition party and the rules for nominating proportional representatives. On the 11th, the Minsaeng Party leadership publicly voiced differing opinions during the Supreme Council meeting. After the meeting turned private, loud voices could even be heard outside the conference room.

Co-representative Kim Jeong-hwa stated, "If by any chance our party participates in the proportional representation coalition party, it would be like stabbing ourselves in the neck, as we should be uniting the centrist reform forces." She added, "We did not create this party to gain a few more seats. The Minsaeng Party was born to overcome the evils of the presidential autocracy and the two-party dominance."

On the other hand, Co-representative Yoo Seong-yeop said, "I have a slightly different perspective on the proportional representation coalition party, and in-depth discussions must take place within the party going forward." He emphasized, "If we fail to block the resurgence of the United Future Party and the corrupt forces now, it will lead to a greater failure. An anti-corruption, anti-United Future Party alliance is absolutely necessary." Co-representative Park Joo-hyun also said, "We must prevent the revival of the Park Geun-hye impeachment forces," adding, "That is the spirit of the three-party merger and the reason for the Minsaeng Party's existence."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Currently, the Minsaeng Party leadership is divided over participation in the proportional representation coalition party and the rules for nominating proportional representatives. The Bareunmirae Party faction is clearly opposed to the progressive and reform camp's participation in the coalition, while the Alternative New Party and the Party for Democracy and Peace factions are conditionally supportive. The nomination rules for proportional representatives have emerged as the biggest issue. A Minsaeng Party official told Asia Economy in a phone interview that day, "Participation in the proportional representation coalition party and the alliance with the small business group are surface-level conflicts," pointing out, "The core issue is the ban on re-election as a proportional representative. No party allows someone who has served as a proportional representative to serve again."

The Bareunmirae Party faction proposed including a party rule stating that "proportional representation candidates must be political newcomers and current lawmakers cannot be elected" to dispel criticism that some lawmakers are only eyeing proportional representation seats. The Party for Democracy and Peace faction strongly opposed this. In response, the Bareunmirae Party faction accused Co-representative Park of deliberately disrupting the last Supreme Council meeting to secure her own proportional representation seat.

Minsaeng Party candidates running in constituencies attended the Supreme Council meeting that day, urging the prompt formation of the nomination committee and the election campaign committee. They said, "The leadership must abandon selfish interests to see the desperate feelings of the people, party members, and constituency candidates," adding, "Who would want to join a Minsaeng Party that has no livelihood but only fights over positions?"

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