[Exclusive] Geum Tae-seop "Will Not Participate in Opposition Grand Unification... Will Create a New Party That Even Yoon Seok-yeol Can Join"

"Anger at the Ruling Party Alone Won't Defeat the Opposition Again"
"We Must Create a Party That People Like... Former Prosecutor General Yoon Could Join If He Enters Politics"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Former Democratic Party lawmaker Geum Tae-seop has clearly stated that he will not participate in the 'opposition grand unification.' He believes that the current ruling and opposition parties cannot gain the support of the people, and plans to create a new party that former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl can also join. Besides the merger between the People Power Party and the People’s Party, a trend toward the political formation of a third zone is expected to emerge.

In a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 12th, former lawmaker Geum said, "The Seoul mayoral and Busan mayoral by-elections had terms of about one year, and the public’s anger toward the ruling party was enough to vote for the opposition," adding, "But the presidential election greatly affects the lives of individual citizens, so people will not vote out of anger alone."

He continued, "We should not think that winning this time means we can win again if we all unite; innovation and painful efforts for change are necessary," and firmly stated, "There are fundamentally different views from the People Power Party. I have no intention of joining."

Before the by-elections, former lawmaker Geum competed for unification with Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, and later supported the People Power Party candidate. While criticizing the Democratic Party, he believes existing parties cannot be alternatives. In an interview with Asia Economy last February, he said, "Except for those who support politicians like fan clubs, more people are left with nowhere to rely on, which can cause tremendous instability," adding, "To solve this, a party must be created, and if intentions align, many people will join. It is not immediate, but ultimately creating a party is my political mission."

After the election, he emphasized innovation in the opposition. Former lawmaker Geum said, "I sincerely hope Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon do well, but isn’t it true that we have regressed to ten years ago?" He pointed out, "The ruling party bears the greatest responsibility, but the opposition also presented figures and appearances from ten years ago, and that alone is not enough."

Regarding the push for opposition grand unification, he dismissed it by saying, "I think it is meaningless to just combine all the existing people. It is basically a 'Ban Moon' (anti-Moon Jae-in) election, but that alone is not enough." Former lawmaker Geum said, "There are parties that people dislike, but none that they like. There is no party that people think represents them. Especially young people have no party to complain to when they are struggling," adding, "It is necessary to create a party that people like and can confide in."

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, "Professor Jin Joong-kwon and accountant Kim Kyung-yul make various statements because they think the Democratic Party should be reprimanded, but they do not agree with the People Power Party, do they?" He added, "Those people may not engage in practical politics, but I will create a party that they can ask for support."

He continued, "I cannot know former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl’s mind, but if he intends to enter politics, a party that he can join must be created. Anyone reasonable can join, but currently there are no concrete talks or plans."

In the opposition, it is a reality that former Prosecutor General Yoon, who enjoys overwhelming support as the next presidential candidate, cannot be excluded from discussions. The People Power Party is promoting a merger with the People’s Party and the recruitment of Yoon. However, former emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party Kim Jong-in holds a different view. Kim said he intends to meet Yoon but firmly stated that Yoon and People’s Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo "cannot be merged."

Attention is focused on whether Yoon’s future lies with the People Power Party-centered unified party or a newly emerging third party. There is considerable skepticism about the possibility of a chemical union between the People Power Party and Yoon.

Former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Seung-min reportedly said during a lecture at the 'Mapo Forum,' a gathering of current and former party lawmakers, on the 8th, that Yoon was "the special prosecutor who demanded a 30-year prison sentence for former President Park Geun-hye." Yoo also said, "Former President Park is currently serving a 24-year sentence. The arrest, indictment, and sentencing were too harsh."

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