Park Jin, who said "Let's maintain the fundamental values and philosophy of conservatism" in front of Kim Jong-in, who said "I hate conservatism"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Lee Ji-eun and Lim Chun-han] On the 10th, Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, called senior lawmakers together and said, "Please express your opinions." To him, who has been continuously taking 'post-conservative' steps, saying 'I dislike conservatism' and 'Let's not call it conservatism,' Representative Park Jin fired a direct shot, saying, "We must maintain the fundamental values and philosophy of conservatism."

On the 10th, Chairman Kim held an Emergency Committee Chairman-Senior Lawmakers meeting at the National Assembly main building and said, "I ask senior lawmakers to express their opinions on the party's future path."

At the meeting, senior lawmakers with four or more terms, including Floor Leader Joo Ho-young, Jeong Jin-seok, Seo Byung-soo, Park Jin, Kwon Young-se, Lee Myung-soo, and Hong Moon-pyo, attended.

Chairman Kim said, "After the election, the balance of power has almost collapsed. The ruling party has an overwhelming number of seats, and the opposition party has become very small?this is the composition of the National Assembly. Considering how our country's economic situation will be after the COVID-19 crisis, please express your opinions on the party's future path and the direction you hope it will take."

The meeting between Chairman Kim and the senior lawmakers took place amid a series of criticisms directed at Chairman Kim. At the 'Republic of Korea Future Innovation Forum' led by Representative Jang Je-won the day before, Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong compared Chairman Kim to a 'mercenary' and 'Hiddink,' saying, "We must win wearing the conservative uniform, not by mercenary power." He also criticized the recent 'leftward shift' of the United Future Party led by Chairman Kim, saying, "If we become a copy of the progressives, we will always be second." This meeting appears to be an attempt to quell internal dissatisfaction and increase communication with senior lawmakers, who had been relatively neglected.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Representative Jeong said, "Apart from the Economic Innovation Committee formed by the Emergency Committee, a special committee should be established to respond to the economic crisis after COVID-19," and proposed, "There are frequent talks about election fraud. I don't want to say much about election fraud issues, but there is a need to prepare reasonable supplementary measures for the early voting system." Chairman Kim had previously dismissed election fraud allegations, saying, "I don't give much credibility to them."

Representative Lee said, "I strongly agree with and view positively the preemption of issues like basic income and universal childcare," but also pointed out, "Although Chairman Kim is prepared with his statements, the party itself needs to be practically prepared. There needs to be answers to whether the party is ready. The new issue preemption, the party's review, and policies must be organically linked."

Representative Park said, "While our party has clearly failed to meet the demands of the times, it is important to uphold conservative values and philosophy, which I believe will never disappear," adding, "Strategically, even if we do not explicitly use the term 'conservative,' we must maintain the fundamental values and philosophy of conservatism and be reborn as a progressive political force that continuously changes and advances."

Representative Hong said, "Not only party members but also the public have high expectations, but they do not know the direction or plans for the future," and criticized the lack of vision, saying, "I understand that the Democratic Party is trying to secure long-term rule by introducing a four-year re-election system and tinkering with the concept of land public ownership. I want to ask whether we are truly preparing for our party's survival with such foresight."

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