United Future Party and People’s Party Initiate Opposition Cooperation... "Policy Discussions Underway"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Attention is focused on the opposition coalition movement between the United Future Party and the People’s Party. Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Future Party, and Kwon Eun-hee, floor leader of the People’s Party, met in person to exchange opinions on policy alliance measures. As the Democratic Party of Korea speeds up the launch of the High-ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Office (HOCI) following the passage of the third supplementary budget, attention is turning to whether a full-fledged alliance between the two parties will take place in the future.

A People’s Party official said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 2nd that regarding the meeting between the two parties’ floor leaders, “Opinions are being exchanged on dozens of policies,” adding, “If there are no disagreements on the current issues, the meeting was held to cooperate well going forward.”

Floor leader Kwon visited the United Future Party floor leader’s office the previous afternoon and said, “There are things we are discussing together,” and “I came to check the progress.” Regarding the content of the discussion, she said, “It is policy-related,” and explained that the specific details would be “announced soon.” It is known that the two have already met several times to discuss policy alliance measures. Recently, Kwon also added her name to the so-called “Lotto Employment Prevention Act,” which was primarily proposed by United Future Party lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung.

Recently, the United Future Party and the People’s Party have been voicing a unified stance on various issues. Kim Jong-in, emergency committee chairman, said at the emergency committee meeting on the 2nd, “The National Assembly, which handles the people’s taxes, passed a supplementary budget of 35 trillion won in just a few days without proper deliberation, simply because the president ordered it to be done by the 3rd of this month,” adding, “I cannot help but point out whether this kind of National Assembly is a proof of the development of democracy in the Republic of Korea or a degradation.”

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, criticized at the supreme council meeting that day, “The ruling party forced the review of a supplementary budget exceeding 35 trillion won and, not satisfied with that, hastily increased it by more than 3 trillion won,” and asked, “Would they have done this if it were their own money?” He continued, “The National Assembly and the opposition party were negated by the president’s order to pass the supplementary budget unconditionally, and the people’s wallets were emptied to the core,” adding, “The legislature, which should be the hall of public opinion and check the executive branch, has degenerated into a ‘Blue House errand center’ through hasty review and hasty passage, beyond being a rubber stamp and a mere hand-raiser.”

Lawmakers from both parties are also increasing points of contact by forming a joint research group called the “National Future Forum.” Floor leader Kwon used the expression “our conservative opposition party” on the 19th of last month. At that meeting, Kwon said, “The forum is receiving interest and expectations in many ways,” and United Future Party lawmaker Hwang Bo-seung-hee responded, “It is a forum with many meanings.” After the seminar that day, floor leader Kwon said, “We do not yet have the will (for unification) and are not at that stage, but we have an open mind.”

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