Wrong Then, Right Now?

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] "I expected Korean politics to make some progress, but the Democratic Party is really disappointing."

Yang Iwon-young, Secretary General of the Energy Transition Forum, criticized the Democratic Party on the 20th for drawing a line with the Green Party during the formation of the proportional representation coalition party. He added, "Either way, I will vote for the Green Party." Three days later, on the 23rd, Yang was selected as the 9th proportional candidate for the Together Citizens Party.

It is known that the Citizens Party includes candidates who voiced criticism during the coalition party formation process or have shown critical stances toward the Democratic Party in the past. Considering the post-election process, such as Citizens Party proportional representatives moving to the Democratic Party, concerns arise that discord with the Democratic Party cannot be ruled out.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Yong Hye-in, former leader of the Basic Income Party and 5th proportional candidate, criticized in 2017 when she was the leader of the Labor Party, saying, "The statement opposing homosexuality was openly made by a candidate who claimed to inherit the Candlelight Revolution during the presidential candidate debate," and added, "I do not want to meet a power-holder accustomed to erasing someone's existence, but probably the president after Park Geun-hye will also be such a power-holder." This was aimed at then Liberty Korea Party presidential candidate Hong Joon-pyo's question about opposing homosexuality, to which President Moon Jae-in replied, "I oppose it."

Park Moon-hyuk, spokesperson of the Central Party of the Let's Go Environmental Party, which participated in the Citizens Party, posted on his Facebook on the 10th, saying, "I was persuaded by Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung's post, 'What would Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun have judged and concluded in this situation?' and from today I oppose participation in the Democratic Party proportional coalition party." The Let's Go Environmental Party participated in the coalition party launch a week later but was excluded from the Citizens Party proportional candidate selection on the 23rd and declared withdrawal.

Within the camp, criticism continues, questioning "Are you abandoning the values of progressive parties to ally with the Democratic Party?" The candidates' stance is to enter the National Assembly first and uphold the values of small parties. On the 24th, Secretary General Yang said, "What I used to talk about has become my story. It seems I will be the 9th proportional candidate for the Citizens Party," adding, "I want to realize the values of green. Has the value of green ever been ranked within the top 10 proportional representation slots in major parties?" He continued, "The biggest reason is that the anti-nuclear party cannot become the majority in the National Assembly. They also oppose renewable energy. They are the greatest enemy of Earth's life forms," targeting the United Future Party, which opposes the nuclear phase-out policy.

Former leader Yong also said, "I will think about what should be done and is being done as a parliamentary party amid the socio-economic crisis and will go to the Citizens Party."

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