Woo Hee-jong: "Open Democratic Party is Celebrity-Centered... Not Even at the Level of 'Democratic Party's Illegitimate Child'"

Regarding Criticism of 'Wiwon Kkwojugi', It Should Be Expressed as Participating in the Cause

Woo Hee-jong, co-representative of the Together Citizens' Party, is holding a meeting with Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, at the National Assembly on the 25th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] Woo Hee-jong, co-representative of the Democratic Citizens' Party, drew a clear line regarding the Open Democratic Party, calling it a "'celebrity'-centered party." He also firmly stated that there is no possibility of a merger after the general election.

On the morning of the 26th, Woo appeared on MBC Radio and, when asked about his stance on the Open Democratic Party, said, "The expression 'false claim' used by Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, means that it is not even a matter of legitimate or illegitimate lineage; the Open Democratic Party is thoroughly a different party that is distant from the Democratic Party." When asked if that meant it could not be considered part of the Democratic Party faction at all, he replied, "Yes."

Woo said, "I believe the intention of the Open Democratic Party is similar to ours, the Democratic Citizens' Party. In that sense, since the Democratic Party has already decided to work with the Democratic Citizens' Party, their intention has become meaningless." He added, "Especially since their party is mainly celebrity-centered, the nature of the party created by citizens who held candlelight vigils is very different. When considering which aligns more with the values the Democratic Party pursues, I think that is why the Democratic Party chose to work with us."

Regarding the possibility of cooperation after the general election, he said, "It is not a concept of merger, but rather that as political parties, we can work together to solve political issues." When asked if the scenario of forming a joint negotiation group, even temporarily, over issues such as recommending the head of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office is still alive, he replied, "There could be such variables."

He also said, "Those in the Open Democratic Party are people who have been sanctioned or disciplined by the Democratic Party," adding, "For such people to become members of the National Assembly outside and then merge back into the Democratic Party would nullify the Democratic Party's own standards and disciplinary measures."

Regarding criticism of 'loaning members of the National Assembly,' he countered, "Rather than calling it loaning, it should be described as participating in the cause." He added, "The revision of the election law had good intentions, but it started to get complicated with the emergence of the Future Korea Party." When asked if there might be additional members dispatched from the Democratic Party to the Citizens' Party beyond the seven members mentioned so far, he said, "We are not thinking about petty competition like that with the Future Korea Party." When asked if Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Jong-gul might take the position of election countermeasures committee chairman, he answered, "Yes."

Woo said, "After the general election, I believe election law reform must occur based on at least the '4+1 spirit,'" adding, "It must be supplemented to prevent the current side effects and confusion."

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