The Dilemma of the United Party with Jeon Gwang-hoon and Taegeukgi... Democratic Party Says "Virtually Neglecting" (Comprehensive)

Expanding Outreach to Centrist Voters Tested
Former and Current United Future Party Lawmakers Attend Rally
Consistently Silent, Indirectly Criticized

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The United Future Party has fallen into a 'Jeon Gwang-hoon and Taegeukgi' dilemma amid the resurgence of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). The emergency committee of the United Future Party, led by Kim Jong-in, which has embarked on expanding its appeal to the moderate electorate, is now on the test bench. The party remained silent about the Liberation Day rally led by far-right figures such as Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon and the participation of United Future Party lawmaker Hong Moon-pyo and former lawmakers Kim Jin-tae and Min Kyung-wook, before indirectly criticizing it.

On the 18th, Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the United Future Party, said on CBS Radio, "The Gwanghwamun rally should be viewed from two different perspectives. From a quarantine standpoint, the Gwanghwamun rally was wrong," but added, "Despite the risk of infection, many people gathered to oppose and criticize the government, and that message should be viewed differently." When asked why the party's official stance had not been released, Joo replied, "I understand that it has been expressed directly or indirectly."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Until the day before, the United Future Party had essentially maintained a non-response stance. When asked by reporters on the 17th about Pastor Jeon's COVID-19 diagnosis, Kim Eun-hye, the party spokesperson, said, "We will not respond to the Democratic Party's questions." Although the party did not participate in the Liberation Day rally at the party level, it also did not completely draw a line. Earlier, on the 11th, Chairman Kim also took an ambiguous stance, saying, "If party members want to participate on their own, they are free to do so."

Current and former United Future Party lawmakers launched attacks against the government and ruling party. Lawmaker Chung Jin-seok said, "Voices attacking a specific church and specific religious people are growing louder," and criticized, "When the president, prime minister, and the ruling party's next-generation leaders get angry and scold, those who should be tested shrink back." Former lawmaker Kim said, "There is only a downhill path for a hypocritical government that suppresses the angry public who voluntarily came out in the rain," and former lawmaker Min said, "The police and Seoul city authorities blocked all the roads with vehicles, exposing citizens to a greater risk of mass infection." Min also stated, "The police and Seoul city authorities blocked all the roads with vehicles, exposing citizens to a greater risk of mass infection," and added, "I will file a complaint."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Democratic Party fired a direct shot at the United Future Party. On the 18th, Kim Tae-nyeon, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at a floor countermeasure meeting, "The United Future Party did not issue any guidelines telling its members not to attend the rally," and sharply urged, "We call for responsible measures against lawmaker Hong and former lawmakers Kim and Min." On the same day, United Future Party spokesperson Bae Jun-young said on MBC Radio regarding the demand to expel rally participants, "We will look into it, but that is the Democratic Party's claim."

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