Unification Party and Korean Party Announce Merger... Forming a United Front Against the Ruling Party

United Future Party Starts 103 Seats in 21st National Assembly
Merger '113 Days' After Founding of Korean Party
Absorption Merger, Not Party-to-Party Integration

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The United Future Party and the Future Korea Party held a merger declaration ceremony on the 28th. The integration of the two parties came 113 days after the Future Korea Party, a satellite party for proportional representation, was established in protest against the '4+1 coalition's' revision of the election law. With this, the United Future Party officially starts the 21st National Assembly with 103 seats, forming a unified front against the ruling party.

Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the United Future Party, said at the merger declaration ceremony held at the National Assembly that day, "The United Future Party and the Future Korea Party have finally merged and become one as originally intended," adding, "(The Future Korea Party lawmakers and elected members) went through unnecessary hardships. The forces of the 4+1 coalition pushed through the election law and the Corruption Investigation Office law recklessly, causing confusion. Now, we will join forces to correct the government's mistakes and do our best to ensure the National Assembly functions for the people."

Won Yoo-chul, the leader of the Future Korea Party, emphasized, "The 21st National Assembly must start by abolishing the 'ragged election evil law' and the mixed-member proportional representation system. Although the proportional party of the main opposition party disappears today, there are still many proportional parties within the ruling coalition," adding, "The ruling party primarily has the responsibility to prevent the public from voting under such confusing election systems." He continued, "The 'Kim Jong-in emergency committee' has been launched. Expectations are high. We must reorganize our identity and policies to fit the times and present new figures and visions," and said, "Although the number of seats has decreased, the people must be in those seats instead. We must become a strong opposition party that works with the people."

The merger of the two parties was carried out through an absorption-type merger rather than a newly established party merger. The party name is temporarily the United Future Party, and the secretariat's location was registered with the National Election Commission at the United Future Party's headquarters address. Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman, will serve as party leader, and floor leader Joo and policy committee chairman Lee Jong-bae will retain their party positions.

The United Future Party held a national committee meeting at the National Assembly Members' Office Building the previous afternoon and approved the merger with the Future Korea Party. Of the 637 members, 375 attended, and the agenda was unanimously passed. Floor leader Joo posted on Facebook that day, "I report the successful merger. I was anxious and worried. I even despaired, thinking 'Ah, it was wrong.' But it all passed," and reflected, "It seems natural in some ways, but when I tried to handle it, it became an extremely difficult task." He added, "I have never seen in Sun Tzu's Art of War or any strategic book the advice to 'divide forces to fight.' Forces should be concentrated and mobility maximized," emphasizing, "Our united party will swiftly and powerfully tackle pressing livelihood issues going forward."

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