Yoo Si-min "Progressive Alliance 180 Seats" vs Park Hyung-joon "Even 100 Seats Uncertain" Where Will the April 15 Vote Go?

Park Hyung-jun and Yoo Si-min, Divergent Analyses of the General Election Outlook

Park Hyung-jun, Co-Chairman of the United Future Party's Joint Election Countermeasures Committee, is speaking at the election strategy meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 7th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Park Hyung-jun, co-chairman of the Future United Party's joint election countermeasures committee, expressed concern on the 14th, a day before the April 15 general election, saying, "The claim that even the constitutional amendment blocking line of 100 seats is precarious is not just a simple threat." On the other hand, Yoo Si-min, director of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation, stated, as a personal opinion, that "it is not impossible for the pro-government coalition to secure 180 seats," showing a divided analysis of the election outlook between ruling party officials and the opposition.

On the same day, Park said on KBS Radio's 'Kim Kyung-rae's Strongest Current Affairs,' "Last week, I expected a wave of regime check to consolidate votes for the opposition, but it has been confirmed that the momentum of the United Party is weakening due to unexpected slander."

He continued, "There are about 50 battleground areas nationwide, and there could be 50 to 60 regions narrowly losing by around 5%," adding, "If that happens, it will result in a huge loss of seats."

Park said, "Depending on the results, a precarious outcome may occur," and added, "In the final moments, neither the United Party nor its supporters should be complacent. (On the last day before the general election) we plan to focus on the metropolitan area."

He also said, "Since the votes of people in their 30s and 40s, who were supposed to come to the United Party, are currently stagnant, we intend to appeal intensively to that segment."

Additionally, at a press conference the previous day, Park said, "If things continue like this, even the constitutional amendment blocking line (100 seats) is at risk," and earnestly requested, "To save democracy in this country and prevent it from being unilaterally controlled by a particular faction, I sincerely ask the people to unite their strength at the last moment."

Yoo Si-min, Chairman of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation [Photo by Yonhap News]

On the other hand, Director Yoo said on the 10th during the YouTube broadcast 'Alileo,' "It is not impossible for the pro-progressive coalition to secure 180 seats including proportional representation seats."

However, immediately after the remark, Yoo was criticized by both ruling and opposition parties. The United Party accused him of being "arrogant," while the Democratic Party criticized him for prematurely judging public sentiment.

In response to the controversy, Yoo appeared on CBS Radio's 'Sisa Jaki Jung Kwan-yong' on the 13th and emphasized, "I never said that the Democratic Party would get 180 seats including proportional representation. The pro-progressive coalition includes the Democratic Party, the Together Citizens Party, the Open Democratic Party, the Justice Party, and the Minsheng Party."

He explained the background of the so-called 'pro-progressive 180 seats' remark, saying, "In response to a viewer's question, 'Is it impossible for the Democratic Party to get 180 seats including proportional representation?' I said, 'It is impossible. That is an excessive desire. But if people vote diligently, it is not impossible for the entire pro-progressive coalition to reach 180 seats,' expressing it as a hopeful statement."

He added, "If everyone participates in voting without exception, it is a reasonable statement that, according to the current National Assembly Act, it is possible to secure 180 seats to smoothly proceed with additional supplementary budgets for COVID-19 measures," and said, "I do not understand what is arrogant or reckless about expressing hope that the pro-progressive coalition should try to secure as many seats as possible to overcome the national crisis."

Earlier, regarding the 'pro-progressive 180 seats' remark, Lee Nak-yeon, co-chairman of the Democratic Party's joint election countermeasures committee, criticized, "Who can claim to know the will of the people to speak so recklessly?" Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the United Party, criticized, "The arrogance of the Moon Jae-in administration has reached its peak," and Kim Jong-in, general election committee chairman, said, "No party that has mentioned 180 seats has ever succeeded in the election."

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