Lee Jun-seok "People's Party, Yes or No to Merger"… Kwon Eun-hee "My Answer is No"

Lee Jun-seok "Stop Delaying and State Your Position on Merger and Negotiations"
Kwon Eun-hee Also Hints at Possibility of Opposition Candidate Unification Instead of Merger

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The controversy surrounding the merger between the People Power Party and the People’s Party is escalating into an emotional conflict. When Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, demanded a clear yes or no answer regarding the merger, Kwon Eun-hee, floor leader of the People’s Party who has been handling the merger negotiations, responded with a no.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 3rd, Lee stated on social media (SNS), "Looking at the terms and concepts the People’s Party has created in just a few days, they are simply trying to buy time with their own terms that the public cannot understand repeatedly," adding, "What matters is simply whether the merger is a yes or no, and whether to meet is a yes or no. Just answer that."

In response, Floor Leader Kwon said on SNS, "Is it because you are a party with 103 seats that you can say to a party with 3 seats, ‘No need for other words, just answer YES or NO!’?" She criticized, "If that is the perception, the Republic of Korea created by the People Power Party would be one where large corporations do not need to explain innovative technologies to youth venture companies, just say YES or NO; where the older generation does not talk about growth potential to the youth but demands a simple YES or NO answer. It would be a one-sided power order where minorities and the weak must either submit or be rejected, a jungle order." She then added, "In that case, my answer is obviously NO!"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 3rd, Floor Leader Kwon appeared on MBC Radio’s ‘Kim Jong-bae’s Focus’ and said, "Currently, People’s Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo also does not feel the necessity to meet with Leader Lee." She continued, "The goal of the merger was integration, and through integration, to expand the opposition’s base, but under the current circumstances, regardless of whether the merger succeeds, it is judged to be a failure."

She also expressed her personal opinion that a plan for unifying opposition candidates after the People Power Party’s presidential primary should be considered. Floor Leader Kwon said, "I think Ahn’s role is needed again to expand the opposition’s base. I believe Ahn should run as a presidential candidate to fulfill this role." She suggested considering a unification primary without a merger.

Yoon Young-hee, deputy spokesperson of the People’s Party, criticized, "The leader is now shaking the determination of the ordinary members and supporters of the People’s Party who said they would not hesitate to merge with the People Power Party for regime change, even though the leaders are currently ‘similar’." She added, "Please answer yes or no. Are the People’s Party and its supporters the ones to be overcome through pressure and submission? Or are they comrades who must unite together for regime change next year?"

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