United Future Party pushes renaming to 'People Power Party' amid controversy... 'Ban on 4-term re-election for lawmakers' excluded

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Lee Ji-eun and Kim Hye-min] The United Future Party decided to proceed with the new party name 'Gukminui Him' (People Power) despite controversies, including criticisms about its similarity to civic groups and the People's Party. However, the clause banning four consecutive terms for members of the National Assembly, which faced strong opposition mainly from re-elected lawmakers, was temporarily excluded from the amendment to the party platform.

On the 1st, the United Future Party held a Standing National Committee meeting to propose changes to the party name and platform. Bae Jun-young, the party spokesperson, told reporters at the National Assembly main building, "Lawyer-turned-lawmakers pointed out that there is a possibility of unconstitutionality," adding, "It is difficult to include it in the party platform, so it will likely be legislated separately, and a special reform committee will be formed to promote it." He also said, "There was a suggestion to discuss the separate collection of KBS license fees, which was included in the platform, more carefully."

Conscious of the backlash against the party name and platform amendments, the United Future Party held a caucus meeting on the morning of the same day following one on the 31st of last month to gather the opinions of lawmakers. Despite the request from Kim Jong-in, the party's emergency committee chairman, reform measures such as the ban on four consecutive terms for National Assembly members were excluded. In his opening remarks at the caucus meeting on the morning of the 1st, Chairman Kim said, "Of course, the party name and platform prepared by the emergency committee this time may not suit the individual tendencies of each lawmaker," and added, "Even if you do not like it, please agree."

He explained, "The general public is realistically watching whether the United Future Party has the ability to achieve its own change," and "Presenting the image of the party changing to the public is the most important task." This implies that the amendments to the party name and platform are intended to show the changes the public desires. Chairman Kim said, "If cracks appear here, we must never hear comments like 'I knew it'," and "I earnestly ask many lawmakers to face the realistic problems our party faces coldly and agree even if it is somewhat unsatisfactory."

Although it was submitted to the Standing National Committee, opposition to the new party name 'Gukminui Him' remains. Within the party, there were criticisms such as "It does not feel conservative" and "It is not fresh," and outside the party, there is controversy over 'copying' by Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Cheong-rae regarding a civic group with the same name in the past. Even among first-term lawmakers, voices pointed out the inappropriateness of changing the party name. On the same day, United Future Party lawmaker Lee Young said on Facebook, "I wonder what meaning changing the party name now has," adding, "Samsung Electronics is just three stars (Samsung), but it is a global company."

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