[Comprehensive] "Jeon Gwang-hoon Must Be Arrested"... United Party Embracing Centrist Voters, Distancing from Taegukgi Brigade

Decision for Party Leadership to Skip Gwanghwamun Liberation Day Rally
Progressive Values Introduced in Party Platform Including Basic Income and Labor Respect
Support Rate at 39.8% Among Moderates... Widening Gap with Ruling Party (31.3%)

On the afternoon of the 15th, Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church is speaking at a rally condemning the government and ruling party held in front of Donghwa Duty Free Shop in Jongno-gu, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Ju-hyung] The United Future Party is showing signs of distancing itself from Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church and the hardline conservative groups such as the 'Taegukgi Unit.' This attitude of the United Future Party is analyzed as a continuation of the 'embracing the centrist' approach that has been ongoing since Kim Jong-in took office as the emergency committee chairman.

Earlier, the United Future Party leadership, including Chairman Kim and Floor Leader Joo Ho-young, decided not to attend the Liberation Day rallies held by conservative groups around Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the 15th. They emphasized the stance that outdoor protests should be avoided during the resurgence of COVID-19 and that quarantine measures must be prioritized.

United Future Party spokesperson Bae Jun-young stated in a commentary on the 16th, "It is time to tighten the reins on quarantine again," adding, "The spread of COVID-19 is serious."

He continued, "The government's decision to raise social distancing to level 2 in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province is a very timely measure," and emphasized, "The United Future Party will also roll up its sleeves and cooperate on issues directly related to the lives and safety of the people."

The only United Future Party incumbent lawmaker who attended the rally was Representative Hong Moon-pyo. According to multiple media reports, Representative Hong explained that he visited the rally site to encourage local residents and did not give a speech or take the stage.

There were also calls for strict punishment against Pastor Jeon, who violated the bail condition of 'prohibition from attending rallies' by participating in the Liberation Day rally.

United Future Party lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung wrote on his Facebook on the 17th, "Jeon Gwang-hoon, who undermined the national quarantine system, must be arrested and severely punished," emphasizing, "Despite a large-scale COVID-19 outbreak at his church, Pastor Jeon mobilized his congregation to attend the rally. The quarantine efforts made by countless medical staff, public officials, and citizens were instantly nullified."

He added, "He is worse than Shincheonji in the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis. He must be severely punished," and criticized, "Lee Hae-chan, the Democratic Party leader who led the 'Park Won-soon memorial altar,' which gave him an excuse, and the Seoul Deputy Mayor should also be severely disciplined."

Kim Jong-in, the General Election Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, is holding a press conference on the results of the 21st National Assembly election at the National Assembly on the morning of April 16. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The United Future Party's distancing from hardline conservatives is seen as part of the centrist embrace that Chairman Kim has been continuously attempting since taking the helm of the party.

In fact, the United Future Party included a large number of previously progressive values such as basic income, respect for labor, and environmental protection in the revised party platform announced on the 13th, aiming to attract the centrist voters. Kim Byung-min, chairman of the United Future Party's Special Committee on Party Platform, emphasized at the briefing, "Regardless of progressive or conservative, if it is for the development of the people and the national community, we did not hesitate to include it in the party platform."

Meanwhile, the United Future Party also accelerated efforts to expand its support base by embracing Honam. The party launched the 'National Integration Special Committee' directly under the emergency committee chairman. Representative Jung Woon-cheong from Jeonju, Jeonbuk, was appointed as the chairman of this committee.

United Future Party spokesperson Kim Eun-hye explained at a press conference held at the National Assembly in Yeouido on the 12th, "The United Future Party has been negligent toward Honam, especially failing to properly field candidates in the general election and not receiving support in Honam, reflecting on its shortcomings as a national party. We intend to listen more to their voices," adding, "Policies supporting Honam's voices must precede so that our sincere plans and intentions toward Honam can be recognized."

Meanwhile, a poll released on the 17th showed that the United Future Party surpassed the Democratic Party in approval ratings. According to a survey conducted by Realmeter commissioned by YTN from the 10th to the 14th, targeting 2,515 adults, the United Future Party's approval rating rose by 1.7 percentage points from the previous week to 36.3%, while the Democratic Party's rating fell by 0.3 percentage points to 34.8%.

In particular, the gap in approval ratings between the United Future Party and the Democratic Party among centrists widened significantly. The United Future Party's support among centrists increased by 2.4 percentage points to 39.8%, while the Democratic Party's support decreased by 0.2 percentage points to 31.3%.

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