'Absorption' or 'One-to-One Exchange'... People Power Party and People Party Begin Full-Scale Integration Next Week

"Rapid Merger" in Yoon's Acceptance Speech
Possibility of Promotion After Appointment of Secretary-General Han Ki-ho
Role of Ahn Cheol-soo Remains a Variable

Ahn Cheol-soo, the presidential candidate of the People’s Party, and Yoon Seok-youl, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, dramatically agreed on unifying their candidacies in the early morning of the 3rd. They held a joint press conference at the Yeouido Communication Center in Seoul that morning, announced the agreement, and shook hands afterward. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] With the election of President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, discussions on the merger between the People Power Party and the People’s Party are expected to accelerate rapidly. However, given the multiple clashes during previous negotiation processes, whether a smooth integration can be achieved has emerged as the first challenge for the People Power Party.

Han Ki-ho, a member of the People Power Party who has been nominated as the next Secretary-General, stated in a phone interview with this outlet on the 11th, "We need to start merger discussions (after assuming the Secretary-General position)." Following the resignation of Kwon Young-se, the Secretary-General and head of the overall election campaign committee of the People Power Party, Han, who was his predecessor, is expected to be appointed as the new Secretary-General as early as next week and immediately push forward merger negotiations. Since President-elect Yoon emphasized during a Q&A session after his victory speech that "swift merger is the most important," both sides are likely to accelerate the pace of negotiations.

However, discord is already being sensed both inside and outside the party even before negotiations begin. Han, who will hold the ‘negotiation key,’ expressed skepticism about the ‘party-to-party merger’ method advocated by the People’s Party during previous talks. Han explained, "The term ‘party-to-party’ doesn’t hold from the start," adding, "Party-to-party implies similarity. For example, an adult and a kindergartener cannot go (on equal terms) together." This means that a party with 110 seats in the National Assembly cannot merge on equal terms with a party holding only 3 seats.

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It also remains to be seen whether the ‘grudge’ with Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the People Power Party who has been engaged in a war of nerves with the People’s Party over merger talks since the April 7 by-elections, can be resolved. On the 3rd, just before the presidential election, Lee said at a press conference of the Daegu branch of the People Power Party, "It will be an absorption-type merger, and the procedures applicable to absorption mergers will be followed," adding, "I have no particular intention to coordinate party leadership." Regarding the possibility of changing the party name, he responded, "There is absolutely none."

The People’s Party expressed displeasure over the mention of an ‘absorption merger’ within the People Power Party. Hong Kyung-hee, spokesperson for the People’s Party, said in a phone interview that day, "It is unreasonable to insist on a one-sided absorption merger," and "Merger discussions have not even started yet, so talking about absorption merger or merger methods already is out of order." She added, "We also agree that merger discussions should begin immediately after the election. However, internal discussions on the merger method and procedures have not yet been conducted," emphasizing, "Discussions should continue based on the spirit of the agreement made when President-elect Yoon and People’s Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo declared their unified support."

There is also analysis that the role Ahn Cheol-soo will take in the process of forming a joint government will significantly influence the merger. Whether Ahn joins the executive branch or challenges party leadership could become a variable in the integration. President-elect Yoon emphasized the day before, "I believe Ahn will play an important supportive role in our party and government." Earlier, Ahn had expressed his intention regarding the possibility of joining the next government, saying, "I can take on various roles, but first, I want to contribute to making the People Power Party a more practical and centrist party." This leaves all possibilities open, including running in the upcoming local elections in June for positions such as Gyeonggi Province Governor and Busan Mayor.

Regarding this, a People Power Party official said, "There is also a possibility that Ahn will remain in the party to secure the People’s Party’s stake," adding, "Much will depend on whether he joins the cabinet or challenges party leadership."

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