Minjung Party Decides to Join Proportional Representation Coalition Party... "Must Prevent the Revival of Corrupt Forces"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] The Minjung Party, the successor to the Unified Progressive Party, announced on the 17th its intention to participate in the 'Proportional Representation Coalition Party,' a pan-progressive proportional representation party platform.

Lee Sang-gyu, the standing representative of the Minjung Party, held a press conference at the National Assembly on the same day and stated, "We must prevent the revival of the deep-rooted forces through the Future United Party's disguised party tactics."

He explained, "We had just finished the Minjung nomination system involving 160,000 participants, so it was not without deliberation," adding, "An urgent situation has arisen that requires revising the Minjung Party's general election policy."

However, he emphasized, "What we are joining is an electoral coalition party, not a satellite party of the Democratic Party of Korea," and added, "A party where a specific party monopolizes decision-making is not an electoral coalition party."

Lee also said, "I am confident that other minor parties outside the National Assembly, such as the Future Party and the Green Party, share this sentiment," and "We are communicating in this direction with the initially proposed Political Reform Coalition."

The Minjung Party's decision to participate in the proportional representation coalition party has inevitably put the Democratic Party in a difficult position, as the Minjung Party has a stronger ideological orientation than other minor parties.

Earlier, on the 15th, Yoon Ho-jung, the Secretary-General of the Democratic Party, during a press briefing, was asked, "Is it possible that the Minjung Party might discuss participation in the coalition party but not join with a specific party?" He replied, "Yes," and said, "We can work with parties that agree on implementing policies over the next four years," effectively expressing refusal.

There are also expected difficulties regarding the order of proportional representation candidates. Although the Minjung Party holds one seat as a party in the National Assembly, it may assert the rights of minor parties during negotiations. Lee Sang-gyu said in a meeting with reporters immediately after the press conference, "Since the Minjung Party is a party in the National Assembly, I think it should be placed ahead of the Future Party or the Green Party in the candidate order."

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