Lee Taegyu "The Regime Change Bus Is Not Necessarily Only Number 2"

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party (center), is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 7th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] Lee Taegyu, a member of the People’s Party, expressed his view toward the People Power Party, saying, "The bus route for regime change is not necessarily only number 2."

On the 15th, through KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strongest Current Affairs,' Lee said, "From a common-sense perspective, I think the merger should take place before the primary election," adding, "However, since this is the political schedule of the People Power Party, it is also important that responsible parties give more thought to whether everyone outside, including former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, agrees."

Lee stated, "If the primary election bus departs unilaterally, it could raise many concerns," and added, "It could be a taxi, or a train, or a bus on a different route other than number 2." He continued, "Since the People Power Party is the main opposition party, I hope they adopt an inclusive attitude that embraces the whole."

Discussions on the merger are expected to proceed concretely after Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, visits Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, on the 16th. Lee explained, "If the two party leaders reach a principled agreement on practical negotiations for the merger, I expect that representatives will be appointed from both parties to start the practical negotiations immediately."

The detailed discussions on the merger will include the party name, party constitution, and party regulations. Lee said, "If the party name is changed during the party-to-party integration process, it becomes a new merger; if the party name is not changed, it is an absorption merger," adding, "When the People Power Party and the People’s Party merge, the issue of which party name to use will likely be an important task in the negotiations."

He also said, "It is time for centrism and pragmatism to take center stage in Korean politics. The values and vision of the unified party must be properly reflected in the party constitution, regulations, and platform," and added, "I am very interested in how the party constitution and platform will be changed to become a new, innovative opposition party suitable for this new era."

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