'97 Group' Park Yong-jin and Kang Hoon-sik Intensify Unification Efforts... "Discussion to Begin Soon"

Park Yong-jin "Not Anti-Myung Alliance but Future Alliance"
Kang Hoon-sik "Must unify as me"

Park Yong-jin, Lee Jae-myung, and Kang Hoon-sik (from left) are clapping after being selected as the final candidates at the preliminary election meeting for the selection of the Democratic Party of Korea's party leader and supreme council members held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 28th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] In the Democratic Party of Korea's party leader election, the '97 Group' lawmakers Park Yong-jin and Kang Hoon-sik, who advanced to the finals, expressed their willingness to unify their candidacies. The two plan to meet to discuss specific procedures such as the timing and method of unification.

On the same day, Lawmaker Park said on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' regarding discussions on promoting unification with Lawmaker Kang, "I spoke with (Lawmaker Kang)" and added, "Lawmaker Kang also expressed that discussions on unification should begin, so we plan to meet soon."

Park explained, "The fact that two members of the 97 generation advanced to the finals itself reflects the hopes of our party members and the public for generational change through future alliances and for the Democratic Party's reform," adding, "Therefore, we define it not simply as an anti-Myung alliance but as a future alliance."

However, he said that specific procedures for unification discussions were not discussed the previous day, stating, "We agreed that it would be best to meet quickly, so we decided to meet."

He also said, "I hope a working-level consultation unit will be formed soon so that unification discussions can begin."

Regarding the deadline for unification, he mentioned, "The best would be to hold debates in Gangwon, Daegu, and Gyeongbuk on August 3, when the first party member vote begins," adding, "It would be best if the unification results come out before party members make their choice."

On the possibility of winning the final election after unification, he expressed confidence, saying, "Whether it is a party member poll or a general public poll, about 20% of respondents answer that they 'have not yet decided or do not know,'" and added, "If participation or reflection in the voting process begins through unification, an unpredictable situation will arise."

On the same day, Lawmaker Kang said on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs' regarding unification discussions, "I would like to ask those who ran in other representative elections to join me for the party's future and for a new, shocking, and unexpected election, and to gather requests for unification with me."

He argued that unifying behind him would be "the most powerful unification," while cautioning, "Lawmaker Park is obviously more well-known than me because he ran in the last presidential election. Such unification would lack any excitement or inspiration and would only be seen as 'a big person swallowing a smaller person.'"

In response, Lawmaker Park met with reporters at the National Assembly in the morning and said, "Unification is not about giving up," adding, "We need to meet and talk."

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