Emergency Committee - Future United Party Ahead of the National Convention... Voices of Returning Members Grow Louder

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Amidst the Future United Party still struggling to find direction regarding the transition to an emergency response committee (ERC) after the crushing defeat in the general election, voices of senior members elected as independents are growing louder. Former Liberty Korea Party leader Hong Joon-pyo has raised his voice to challenge party leadership, and lawmakers Kwon Seong-dong and Kim Tae-ho are hastening their return to the party. However, there are also voices of opposition within the party.

On the 18th, Future United Party lawmaker Kim Yong-tae posted on Facebook, "Please limit your joy to within the Daegu constituency," delivering a sharp rebuke to former leader Hong. He said, "For now, please watch over the Future United Party as a host bearing the pain of a collapse, humbly accepting the judgment of the people," adding, "I earnestly say this as the minimum duty of someone who was once the leader of our party."

This was read as a criticism of former leader Hong’s de facto presidential bid announced on his Facebook earlier that morning, where he said, "I will decorate the final finale." Hong had declared his presidential ambitions, saying, "I am a person who has lived a resilient life like Deng Xiaoping. I will never fall again." In response to Kim’s criticism, Future United Party lawmaker Kang Hyo-sang wrote on Facebook, "What right does someone who caused conflict by parachute candidacy in Guro have to talk about duty to Hong, the biggest victim of the worst candidacy?"

There is internal friction over Hong’s return to the party. Earlier, Future United Party lawmaker Joo Ho-young said on CBS Radio’s 'Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show,' "He strongly hopes to return to the party, but it is difficult at the moment," adding, "Ahead of the 2022 presidential election, everyone should unite, but the possibility of immediate return is low." However, after the general election defeat, even combined with the Future Korea Party, the Future United Party barely reached the constitutional amendment blocking threshold with only 103 seats, making every single seat precious.

If presidential-level figures who ran as independents in protest of the candidacy process return to the party, the leadership competition in the Future United Party, which is currently in a 'leadership vacuum' due to the party leader’s resignation, is expected to become even more intense. Former leader Hong firmly stated his intention to return on CBS Radio’s 'Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show,' saying, "The question of returning itself is rude and unpleasant. Wanderers came in and took over the home, and now they won’t let the owner in." Lawmaker Kwon Seong-dong, who was elected as an independent in Gangneung, has also applied for reinstatement, and lawmaker Kim Tae-ho, elected in Sancheong-Hamyang-Geochang-Hapcheon, Gyeongnam, has hinted at returning. In particular, Kwon is expected to challenge for the floor leader position, which became vacant due to Shim Jae-cheol’s defeat.

Meanwhile, the Future United Party remains unsettled over whether to transition to an ERC or hold an early party convention. Former general election committee chairman Kim Jong-in and lawmaker Yoo Seung-min are being mentioned as candidates for ERC chairman, while there are also calls to join hands with Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party. However, former chairman Kim insists on a guaranteed term of more than six months, and Ahn drew a line, saying, "There have been no discussions with the United Party."

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