'Opposition Unification' Equation Differs in Third Zone, Constant is Yoon Seok-yeol

Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol is casting his vote at the early voting station set up at Namgajwa 1-dong Community Center in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the first day of early voting for the April 7 Seoul mayoral by-election. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Although the flag of ‘opposition grand unification’ has been raised, no significant momentum has been established yet except for the push for the merger of the People Power Party and the People’s Party. Former Democratic Party lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, considered one pillar of the unification, clearly stated that he will not participate in the unification and intends to create a new party that embraces former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl. While Yoon’s entry into politics seems likely, there is considerable skepticism about whether a chemical union with the People Power Party is possible. The return of independent lawmaker Hong Joon-pyo to the People Power Party also appears to face many hurdles.

On the 12th, former lawmaker Geum said in a phone interview with Asia Economy, “This by-election was won by the opposition due to anger against the ruling party, but we should not think that if we all unite, we can win next time as well.” He added, “It is literally an ‘anti-Moon’ (opposition to President Moon Jae-in) election, but since the presidential election greatly affects the lives of individuals, people will not vote out of anger alone. There are basically differences in views with the People Power Party, so I have no intention of joining.”

Former lawmaker Geum maintains friendly relations with former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon and Kim Kyung-yul, co-representative of Economic Democracy 21 (accountant). He said, “There are only parties that people dislike and no parties that people like. Especially, there is no party where young people can complain when they are struggling.” He continued, “I intend to work on creating a party that people like and can confide in. Even if people like former professor Jin Joong-kwon and accountant Kim Kyung-yul do not engage in practical politics, it will be a party they can say they support.”

He added, “If former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl intends to engage in politics, the task is to create a good party that he can join. If he is a reasonable person, he can work with anyone.”

In the opposition camp, it is a reality that Yoon, who enjoys overwhelming support as the next presidential candidate, cannot be excluded from discussions. The People Power Party is emphasizing the merger with the People’s Party and the recruitment of Yoon. However, former emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party Kim Jong-in declared in a media interview that Yoon and Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, “cannot be merged.”

Attention is focused on whether Yoon’s future lies with the People Power Party-centered united party or a newly emerging third party.

Hong’s return to the party also remains uncertain. On the previous day, Hong expressed on Facebook, “Those who label me as a hardline conservative once asked if I am a cautious conservative,” and lamented, “Regarding the issue of my return, some factional first-term lawmakers opposed it, so I said that if they oppose me during the presidential candidate primary and work in another candidate’s camp, then why would they oppose even my joining, as I am the leader of Korean conservatism?”

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