Joo Ho-young "High public opinion for party convention after merger... Third zone party formation is opposition division"

After the Merger of the People's Party, a Unified Leadership Must Be Formed
"A Good Outcome Expected Next Week"

It Would Be Good if Our Party Becomes an Open Platform,
But Yoon's Own Will Is the Most Important

Joo Ho-young, Acting Leader of the People Power Party, is attending the senior members' joint meeting held at the National Assembly on the 14th and delivering a speech. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Joo Ho-young, acting leader of the People Power Party, stated on the 15th, "It is understood that there is a stronger opinion that the party convention should be held after the merger with the People Party," adding, "A unified leadership should be formed through the party convention after the merger."

In an interview on BBS Radio's 'Park Kyung-soo's Morning Journal' on the same day, Acting Leader Joo said, "Dialogue with the People Party is going well, and I understand that the People Party is gathering opinions on the merger from provincial party branches and then party members," adding, "The People Power Party also needs to gather some consensus on the merger. Therefore, we will hold a parliamentary meeting tomorrow to organize opinions on the merger, and then hold a meeting of provincial party chairpersons nationwide on Monday next week to finalize it."

He continued, "I believe a conclusion will be reached next week, and probably a good result will come out."

Regarding the reason why the merger should take place before the party convention that elects the party leadership, Acting Leader Joo explained, "If our People Power Party holds the party convention first and then merges, we will have to discuss the leadership system after the merger again," adding, "If the merger is expected to be delayed, we should independently hold the party convention to form the leadership, but if it does not take a long time, it is appropriate to form a unified leadership after the merger."

He further said, "There are usually three obstacles in integration: negotiation over shares, the status of assets, and the succession of employment for Secretariat staff, but we are not demanding shares. The asset situation is clean. The number of Secretariat staff is almost single-digit," adding, "Since there is no hindrance to gathering after integration, I believe there are almost no obstacles."

Regarding former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol's joining the party, he emphasized the importance of Yoon's own will. Acting Leader Joo said, "From our party's perspective, it is most desirable for our party to become an open platform to unify opposition candidates and compete in the presidential election against the ruling Democratic Party next year," adding, "Therefore, we are promoting the merger with the People Party, but in the case of former Prosecutor General Yoon, if he is firmly determined to engage in politics, considering the presidential election structure and political situation, it is a matter for him to make a political decision."

Regarding the possibility of forming a new third-party opposition, he assessed the situation as opposition division. He said, "It is not easy for a third party to form a party and properly contest the election," adding, "There is a strong public demand for the opposition to unify and produce a single candidate to change the regime due to President Moon Jae-in and the Democratic Party's failure in governance and tyranny, so I believe former Prosecutor General Yoon will carefully review these circumstances and make a decision."

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