"Burden of the People," "Copied by Civic Groups" - Some Ruling Party Members Criticize United Party's New Name 'Kookminuihim'

Lawmakers Raise Suspicions of "Citizen Group Name Misuse" and "King of Plagiarism"
Speculation That Party Name May Be Intended for Merger with 'Gukminuidang'
United Party Refutes, Saying "'Gukmin' Is Not Associated with Any Specific Group or Faction"

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, and Joo Ho-young, Floor Leader, are entering the Emergency Response Committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 31st. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] After the United Future Party selected 'Gukminui Him' (People Power) as the final candidate for its new party name, criticism poured in from some ruling party members. Allegations arose that the party name was plagiarized from a civic group’s name, and there were also speculations that the similarity to 'Gukminui Dang' (People’s Party) was intended with a view toward a possible merger.

The United Future Party announced on the 31st at an emergency committee meeting that it had selected 'Gukminui Him' as the final candidate for the new party name and plans to submit it to the national committee on the 2nd of next month.

Previously, the United Future Party conducted a nationwide party name contest from the 13th to the 21st. The party explained that among the 16,941 party name suggestions received, the word 'Gukmin' (People) was the most frequently mentioned, and the new party name was created centered around this word.

However, some members of the Democratic Party of Korea raised suspicions that 'Gukminui Him' might have plagiarized the name of a civic group or another party. On the same day, Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Cheong-rae wrote on his Facebook, "'Gukminui Him' is a clear case of name theft," adding, "It is regrettable and unpleasant that our civic group 'Gukminui Him,' established 17 years ago, is being mentioned as the new party name of the United Future Party."

Jeong stated that he was a co-representative of the civic group 'Gukminui Him' in 2003 and strongly criticized the United Future Party, saying, "You are not qualified to use this name," and "Descendants who were impeached by the power of the people have no right to talk about the power of the people. You are only a burden to the people."

Another Democratic Party lawmaker, Park Beom-gye, also raised plagiarism suspicions by referring to the party 'Gukminui Him,' established in 2012, saying, "King of copying? It seems likely to be rejected."

Kim Soo-min, head of public relations of the United Future Party (left), and spokesperson Kim Eun-hye are answering reporters' questions regarding the revision of the new party name 'People Power' at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 31st. / Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, some speculated that the inclusion of the word 'Gukmin' (People) in the new party name might indicate a consideration of a merger with the People’s Party led by Ahn Cheol-soo in the future.

However, Ahn Cheol-soo responded to questions about the United Future Party’s new party name after a meeting on the morning of the same day, saying, "It is not appropriate for me to comment on another party’s name," and "From what I’ve heard, it doesn’t seem likely to be a similar party name."

When asked if the new party name was intended with a view toward a merger with the People’s Party, he dismissed the idea, saying, "If that logic applies, then all parties with 'Gukmin' (People) in their names should merge."

Meanwhile, the United Future Party addressed the ruling party’s suspicions that the new party name plagiarized a civic group’s name by pointing out that the word 'Gukmin' (People) does not belong to any particular camp or ideology.

Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for the United Future Party, said at a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, "Whenever a party name is created, people will naturally be curious about its history and background. The word 'Gukmin' itself does not belong to any camp or ideology," adding, "Please understand that it comes from the constitutional spirit of the people themselves."

Kim Soo-min, head of public relations for the same party, responded to the plagiarism allegations raised by lawmaker Jeong by saying, "He usually has free thinking, so I don’t think his words should be taken seriously," and "The party name 'Gukminui Him' was used in 2012 for an article and has been used several times in the political arena through various changes over time."

Regarding questions about the similarity of the new party name to the People’s Party, she said, "There are many questions about the similarities and differences with the People’s Party, but I don’t think it’s necessary to argue about it," adding, "However, I hope we can become competitors through new, healthy, and rational activities worthy of that name."

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