On the "Third Zone Theory"... Choi Jae-sung Says, "Do You Eat Danmuji Just Because You Dislike Jjajangmyeon and Jjamppong?"

Former Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Geum Tae-seop's initiative to establish a 'third zone' new party was called "an impossible idea" by former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Choi Jae-sung, who pointed to the absence of a presidential candidate as one of the reasons.

On the 25th, former Secretary Choi said on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' "A politician who, in a way, failed in the existing two-party system is trying to create a third zone. How realistic is this? I consider it close to impossible," he said.

Former Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is conversing with Geum Tae-seop, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, at the "Reflection and Exploration Forum for a Different Future" held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 18th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Former lawmaker Geum plans to establish the third zone new party before this Chuseok holiday. He also set a goal to secure 30 seats in the metropolitan area in next year's general election. However, former Secretary Choi said, "To create a third party with 30 seats in the general election, there must be a presidential candidate," adding, "According to Geum's statements, claims, and imagination, it might be possible, but it is unclear how he intends to achieve something that even presidential-level leaders have failed at."

He pointed out that former presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo also failed. Former Secretary Choi said, "(Former Prime Minister) Kim Jong-pil of the United Liberal Democrats had a solid regional base in Chungcheong, and then Ahn also failed," adding, "He left the party and formed an alliance with Park Ji-won and Kim Han-gil, and at that time, when Honam temporarily turned against the Democratic Party, he took advantage of that gap. However, it was not sustainable, and afterward, it was completely wiped out."

In political circles, many believe that targeting the non-affiliated voters who feel political disgust toward the two major parties could make the third zone possible. However, former Secretary Choi said, "Unless there is a convincing reason to nod to an alternative force, just because there are people disappointed with the existing two parties does not mean you can claim them as your own," adding, "If you don't want to eat Jajangmyeon or Jjamppong, you can't live on just pickled radish."

He continued, "First, there is the absence of presidential-level leadership; second, there are those who were not recognized as mainstream or leaders in existing parties; third, political values and other points must be clear. If you only want to benefit from the spillover effect, the public sentiment rejected by the existing parties will not be absorbed unconditionally," adding, "It is theoretically impossible, historically impossible, and practically impossible."

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