[Friday Story] Political Heavyweights Leaving Yeouido... But Eyes Remain on Yeouido

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Political heavyweights leaving the National Assembly stage are seeking new paths on the outskirts of 'Yeouido politics.' Although they are in a position to vacate their offices in the National Assembly Members' Office Building due to their decision not to run or losing in the 21st general election, they are striving to assert their presence through various means. Some have opened offices near Yeouido, Seoul, to initiate a 'conservative reconstruction' movement, while others have started their second careers as political commentators.

According to political circles on the 15th, Kim Moo-sung, a six-term member of the Future United Party who did not run in the general election, recently rented an office in Mapo, Seoul, along with lawmakers Kang Seok-ho, Kim Sung-tae, and Kim Hak-yong. Their commonality is that none of them were elected in the 21st general election. Kim’s Mapo office is expected to serve as a gathering place for 'conservative reconstruction.' It will be a meeting space where current and former conservative lawmakers from the United United Party and other conservative camps discuss current issues.

In particular, Kim is reportedly preparing a 'political blueprint' related to the next presidential election scheduled for March 2022. As a prominent politician who once led the conservative presidential race, his moves are expected to be a key point of interest. Recently, Kim also made his presence felt by publicly criticizing conservative YouTubers.

Yoo Seung-min, one of the opposition presidential candidates and a member of the United United Party, is also known to be setting up an office in Seoul. After the crushing defeat in the general election, he declared on Facebook a "new spirit on a blank slate," pledging to rebuild conservatism. On the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, he plans to pay respects at the May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Gwangju on the 17th. Kim Se-yeon, a three-term United United Party lawmaker who did not run, also plans to open an office near Seonyudo Station in Seoul. He will engage in activities at the 'Youth Politics School,' which he co-founded in 2017 with five-term lawmaker Jeong Byeong-guk, who also did not run. Seo Cheong-won, the longest-serving lawmaker in the National Assembly and a 'political elder' with eight terms, has remained silent since the general election. Given his advanced age, born in 1943, it is expected that he will serve as a guide for younger politicians.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

‘Political master’ Park Ji-won of the Minsheng Party is raising his profile in the broadcasting world based on his unique political analysis skills. Park is expected to exert influence in the next presidential election while working as a political commentator. He has recently been advocating the 'Honam presidential theory.' There is speculation that he will provide side support to Lee Nak-yeon, the former Prime Minister and a leading presidential candidate from the ruling coalition.

The moves of Jeong Dong-young, who ran as the presidential candidate for the United Democratic Party in 2007, are also attracting attention. After losing, he announced on Facebook, "I am now returning to being a private citizen," which sparked rumors of his retirement from politics. However, Jeong has denied retirement rumors and is seeking a comeback. Cheon Jeong-bae, a six-term lawmaker and a symbolic figure in Honam politics, has not taken any clear steps since posting his election loss sentiments on Facebook.

Lee Hae-chan, the leader of the Democratic Party who led the party to a sweeping victory in the general election, is preparing to retire from politics. He plans to manage the party until the Democratic Party’s national convention in August and then leave the Yeouido political stage. Lee stated on the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation’s YouTube program 'Yoo Si-min’s Alileo' that "after my term ends, I will actively work on improving inter-Korean relations." As a senior politician in the ruling coalition, he is expected to exert influence on inter-Korean relations and practical politics.

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