Ahead of the General Election, Speculation on the Formation of a 'Bipartisan Alternative New Party'... Impact Remains Uncertain

About 300 days ahead of next year's general election, rumors are circulating that lawmakers from the People Power Party, the Democratic Party of Korea, and the Justice Party are coming together to form a "bipartisan alternative new party." This appears to be a result of the activation of the "third zone" amid the new party founding frenzy. However, Park Won-seok, former policy committee chairman of the Justice Party, who was known to be participating in the new party, drew a line by stating, "There is no possibility of participation," and even if the party is formed, there are doubts about its impact.

On the 6th, Park, the former Justice Party policy committee chairman, said on MBC's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" that "I do not know well what the new party that former lawmaker Geum is promoting is about, nor do I know well the people participating in it," and drew a line by saying, "(Joining) is not possible."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, some media reported that a "bipartisan alternative new party" led by former lawmaker Geum would be formed. Park was also known to be joining, but he denied this through his social networking service (SNS).

He said, "It is true that the two former lawmakers and I met and exchanged opinions on various political situations, and in the process, we reached a consensus that a new political landscape is needed to overcome the currently extreme polarization of camp confrontation politics," but added, "There is no concrete plan confirmed yet regarding the founding of a new party." He also said there was no request to join from former lawmaker Geum.

With centrifugal forces growing stronger in both the ruling and opposition parties ahead of the general election, and the activation of the third zone due to the ongoing new party founding frenzy, various forms of coalition possibilities are being raised. Yang Hyang-ja, a lawmaker who founded the Korea Hope Party, said on BBS's "Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal" the day before, "Former lawmaker Geum is close," and added, "He says he will found a new party, and although it might be very rude to say 'let's do it together,' if we share values, vision, and dreams, and can show the people such a vision for Korea, it is natural to join forces."

While the Justice Party has drawn a line against these new parties, saying "our life trajectories are different," Park, the former policy committee chairman, said, "To say that our life trajectories are different seems too subjective. Anyway, to push out the two major parties, the center needs to grow in volume, and there is a need to encourage each other. Whether there is a possibility of cooperation is a matter for the future," leaving the possibility open.

If the bipartisan alternative new party is actually formed, will it attract public interest? The political world points out that simply aiming for the center cannot win votes. If it fails to captivate attention with its own vision, it may end up as a storm in a teacup. Democratic Party lawmaker Cho Eung-cheon said on KBS's "Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs," "It seems the beginning was a criticism of the Democratic Party. But you have to present your own product; starting with criticizing existing products, can you really make a hit?" and added, "Isn't there hardly any self-scoring point? That is a bit worrisome."

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