"Our Party Is Different from the Far-Right" United Party Draws a Line with Hardline Conservatives

Joo Ho-young "We Must Move Toward Gaining Support from the Centrist Faction"
Ha Tae-kyung "We Must Discard All Our Past Mistakes"
United Future Party Accelerates Recent Efforts to Broaden Party Base
Attempts to Revise Progressive Platform and Embrace Honam Region

Joo Ho-young, Floor Leader of the United Future Party / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The United Future Party has actively distanced itself from hardline conservative groups that led the 'August 15 Liberation Day Commemoration Moon Jae-in Government Condemnation Rally.' It appears to be a strategic move to shed the 'far-right image' in order to attract moderate voters and expand the party's base.

On the 25th, Joo Ho-young, the floor leader of the United Future Party, appeared on KBS Radio's 'Kim Kyung-rae's Strongest Current Affairs' and said, "Our party is different from those who are called far-right in society," adding, "There is a tendency among the general public to lump us together as the same conservative faction."

Joo emphasized, "We are different from Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, and in the 21st general election, they even fielded candidates, which actually ate into our votes. The Liberation Day rally has absolutely no connection with the United Future Party."

He continued, "We should not just leave extreme claims as they are; we must clearly state that we oppose such (far-right groups') ideas and that our views differ," explaining, "We have received a lot of advice that only then can moderate voters support the party. I think we should take direction from expert advice."

On the same day, Ha Tae-kyung, a lawmaker from the same party, appeared on TBS Radio's 'Kim Eo-jun's News Factory' and stressed, "We must speak even more strongly within the party about breaking ties with (far-right groups)," adding, "We must discard all past mistakes within our ranks."

United Future Party lawmakers have previously strongly criticized former Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo, former lawmaker Cha Myung-jin, and Pastor Jeon, who attended the Liberation Day rally.

Won Hee-ryong, Jeju Governor affiliated with the United Future Party, pointed out in a radio interview on the 21st that former Governor Kim and former lawmaker Cha "seem to be intoxicated by the attention from cameras and applause, but rather become obstacles to the country moving in the right direction and gathering public support."

Kim Geun-sik, professor at Gyeongnam National University and head of the United Future Party's Songpa-byeong district party committee in Seoul, defined Pastor Jeon as "an 'X-man' benefiting the Moon Jae-in government," emphasizing, "The future of the United Future Party depends on whether it breaks ties with the extreme Taegeukgi forces."

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

There is a view that the United Future Party is trying to distance itself from hardline conservatives and expand its support base. In fact, the party recently included many elements considered progressive values in its revised party platform. The United Future Party placed the introduction of basic income at the forefront.

The party included the statement, "The state actively supports individuals to lead stable and free lives through basic income in preparation for the Fourth Industrial Revolution era," in the chapter on equality and fairness titled 'A Country of Opportunities Open to All.'

Kim Byung-min, chairman of the United Future Party's Special Committee on Party Platform and Policy, emphasized at a briefing, "Regardless of progressive or conservative, if it is for the people and the national community, we did not hesitate to include it."

Additionally, the party accelerated efforts to expand its base by attempting to embrace the Honam region. On the morning of the 19th, Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman, knelt and paid respects at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju. This was the first time a conservative party leader knelt and apologized. Furthermore, the United Future Party launched the 'National Integration Special Committee' directly under Chairman Kim, appointing lawmaker Jung Woon-chun from Jeonju, Jeonbuk, as the committee chair.

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