Korean Party Voices Desire for Independent Negotiation Group Amid Merger Talks with United Party...

Wonyucheol Proposes '2+2 Talks'... Speculation on Building Justification for Independent Policy Line

Won Yu-cheol, leader of the Future Korea Party, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 4th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] As the Future Korea Party announced that it will soon begin merger discussions with the United Future Party, political circles are focusing on whether the integration between the two parties will accelerate. However, there are also observations that the Korea Party may be trying to build justification for an independent path by simultaneously proposing a '2+2 meeting' to abolish the mixed-member proportional representation system.

Won Yoo-chul, leader of the Korea Party, stated on the 10th, "Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the United Future Party, has been elected, and we will discuss the timing, procedures, and methods of the merger. If a new emergency response committee chairman is appointed, we will promptly continue the discussions." He added, "The final decision on the future and fate of the Korea Party will be made by the party's members of the National Assembly, elected officials, and party members. We will gather everyone's consensus to decide."

Leader Won also defended against criticism directed at the Korea Party due to delays in the merger process between the two parties. He said, "Thanks to the people who made the Korea Party, the sibling party of the United Future Party, the number one proportional representation party, there are those who dictate every detail and those who want to walk the path together. There are also those who try hard to belittle the Korea Party." He strongly requested, "I urge you to refrain from making statements that damage the honor of the Korea Party or disgrace its members."

In fact, there are claims that the Korea Party should form an independent negotiation group. To check the 'super ruling party' with 177 seats, voices say that the Korea Party's separate negotiation group formation is inevitable. If the Korea Party becomes a negotiation group, it will be advantageous for the entire opposition in the 21st National Assembly's organization, bill review, and the composition of the recommendation committee for the head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. Additionally, it can secure the regular subsidy allocated to negotiation groups. According to the Political Funds Act, 50% of the total subsidy amount is distributed equally to parties that are negotiation groups.

In this general election, the Korea Party, which won 19 seats, can secure negotiation group status by adding just one more seat. Within the Korea Party, plans to form a negotiation group by recruiting four independents from the United Future Party (Hong Joon-pyo, Kwon Seong-dong, Yoon Sang-hyun, Kim Tae-ho, members and elected officials) are being discussed. However, since they are negative about joining the Korea Party, it is expected to be difficult to realize without a decision from the United Future Party.

Former Liberty Korea Party leader Hong Joon-pyo said on Facebook on the 8th, "The merger of the United Future Party and the Korea Party is the will of the people," and urged, "Leader Won, please immediately start the merger process." He added, "Leader Won is still young. I understand the pain of having to temporarily leave the National Assembly, but when leaving, one must leave with a clean record to have justification to return." He criticized, "I hope Leader Won does not follow the footsteps of former Bareunmirae Party leader Sohn Hak-kyu."

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