[The Editors' Verdict] When Won Yoo-chul's Trick and Ahn Cheol-soo's Self-Defeating Move Meet

The Democratic Party of Korea's proportional representation party, the Deobureo Citizen Party, held an executive meeting on the 12th and decided to expel lawmakers-elect Yong Hye-in and Cho Jung-hoon, who were elected as minority party representatives. This is in line with the original promise to return them to their original parties. By the 13th, the merger process with the mother party, the Democratic Party, will also be completed. This was also a promise made to the public before the general election. Without that promise, the Citizen Party, a so-called 'trick proportional representation party,' would have had no reason to secure 17 proportional seats.

Although the Citizen Party was founded as a 'satellite party' of the ruling party through a trick, it has at least kept its original promise. If they had tried to add a few more seats to operate independently as a third negotiation group, it could have ended the era of the Democratic Party's dominance. When a trick is met with a worse move, the game inevitably ends there. Wise citizens will overturn their game and put an end to it. The people clearly demonstrated that possibility in the 21st general election.

The problem lies with the United Future Party and the Future Korea Party. The United Future Party is still wandering around Yeouido, lost. The Future Korea Party is also hesitating and lost. When lost, reflecting on one's original intention usually provides the answer. Yet they stubbornly abandon their original intention because they are obsessed with the idea that if they use one more trick, they can secure the 'cash' of a third negotiation group. This is a typical 'calculation of the insiders.'

Initially, the Future Korea Party considered adding one seat to operate independently as a third negotiation group. However, as criticism grew fierce, they took an ambiguous stance and recently announced they are also considering an alliance with the People’s Party, which holds three seats. Within the party, there was even talk of a full merger. Then, Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, responded, "To implement policies, we must join hands with either the ruling or opposition parties." Though his wording is characteristically ambiguous, it means he is open to cooperating with them.

However, if the Future Korea Party and the People’s Party join hands as a third negotiation group, it would be a fatal blow from which both parties cannot recover. The Future Korea Party would face fierce criticism for betraying the will of the people who gave them 19 seats and trampling on their original promises. In such a state, they cannot fully perform the role of a third negotiation group. It would only increase the burden on the United Future Party. Ultimately, the third negotiation group would have to be disbanded.

The People’s Party would only reinforce the image of being the 'second fiddle' to the United Future Party. It would further tarnish the already battered image of leader Ahn. How can one explain Ahn Cheol-soo’s People’s Party if it joins hands with the very proportional Future Korea Party they so vehemently criticized as a 'trick'? Ultimately, it must be recognized that Ahn Cheol-soo’s 'self-inflicted move' could cause them to lose everything. The betrayal that supports the two major parties, rather than punishing them, could cost 'Ahn Cheol-soo politics' everything. Do they still not realize how many people in the center have lost their way due to the divisive behavior that has already betrayed third-way politics?

It is somewhat fortunate that Future Korea Party leader Won Yoo-chul announced on the 10th that, as promised to the people, they will proceed with a merger with the United Future Party. However, whether he will change his words again or actually act as promised remains to be seen. If they flip-flop again or repeat old habits by talking about a third negotiation group or the prior abolition of the mixed-member proportional representation system, it will be difficult to contain the public’s anger. The People’s Party must also stop opportunistic behavior and confidently walk the path of third-way politics. Although that path is already in tatters, the 'flag' still remains. While it is unlikely, I truly do not want to see the 'politics of ruin' where even the torn flag is sold off.

Park Sang-byeong, Political Commentator

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