Future Korea Party Faces Turning Point Next Week Amid 'Trickery'...

Future Korea Party leader Won Yoo-chul and elected members visited the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul on the 17th to pay their respects. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] It appears that the decision on whether Mirae Hangukdang (Future Korea Party) will remain an independent negotiating group party will be made next week. Attention is focused on whether it will risk criticism for resorting to trickery again by breaking its promise to merge with the Mirae Tonghapdang (Future United Party) after the general election, as it was originally created as a satellite party through a 'trick.' Meanwhile, the satellite party of the Democratic Party, Deobureo Simindang (Together Citizens' Party), is already effectively proceeding with the merger process.

On the 23rd, a representative of Mirae Hangukdang stated, "From the 28th to the 29th, a workshop will be held where all elected members will gather," adding, "Since this will be the first opportunity to discuss after the general election, the merger with Mirae Tonghapdang will also be discussed."

If Mirae Hangukdang does not merge, it will be more advantageous in securing two 'opposition party quota' recommendation members for the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (Gongsoocheo) chief recommendation committee and will also be able to receive separate party subsidies. However, if it maintains its independent party status strategically while essentially being one with Mirae Tonghapdang, it will inevitably face strong public criticism.

Calls for a merger are also growing within Mirae Tonghapdang. Jeong Jin-seok, who secured his fifth term, wrote on his Facebook the day before, "Mirae Hangukdang is a party hastily formed in self-defense opposing the mixed-member proportional representation system," and added, "Tonghapdang cannot afford to have a subsidiary like Mirae Hangukdang. It is logical and proper to merge quickly into the main company, Tonghapdang."

Jang Je-won, who secured his third term, also argued on the 21st, "We should not engage in politics that appear as trickery to the public again by talking about political judgment, the number of recommendation members for the Gongsoocheo chief, or party subsidies."

However, Kim Jong-in, the former general election committee chairman scheduled to become the emergency committee chairman, appeared on CBS Radio the day before and said, "We can merge or not merge, but it is certain that (Mirae Hangukdang) is a party in name. I don't think merging quickly has any special effect." Thus, the merger decision remains uncertain.

The Democratic Party is actively considering merging with Simindang regardless of whether Tonghapdang and Hangukdang merge. Above all, it is known that leader Lee Hae-chan is negative about the formation of satellite negotiating groups. This is also interpreted as a preemptive measure against the tricks of Mirae Tonghapdang.

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