Over 60 On-Duty Members Resign Collectively... What’s Happening with the Justice Party?

Former Spokesperson Wi Sun-hee and Others Push for New Progressive Party
Conflict Revealed with Key Politicians Within the Party
"Amplifying and Abetting the 'Third Power' Voice"

Over 60 current and former officials of the Justice Party declared their sudden resignation on the 7th, bringing internal conflicts within the party to the surface. Previously, the Justice Party had announced a reestablishment through integration and alliance with third political forces such as labor and green groups, but it is interpreted that a faction disagreeing with this decision has decided to leave the party.

They plan to establish a new progressive party. Most of them are known to belong to the 'New Progressive' faction, which was an opinion group within the Justice Party. It is reported that Cheon Ho-seon, a director of the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation who left the Justice Party last year, will join their founding. Cheon is a former inaugural leader of the Justice Party.

Eunju Lee, a member of the Justice Party, is speaking at the Executive Committee meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 2nd. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@ 2023. 03. 02.

They stated their reason for leaving as "the Justice Party has lost the momentum for change and innovation and has reached an irreparable situation."

Former Justice Party spokesperson Wi Sun-hee, former chief spokesperson Jeong Ho-jin, Kangwon Province Party Chair Im Myeong-hee, and Chungbuk Province Party Chair Lee Hyeong-rin held a press conference in front of the National Assembly on the 7th, saying, "We are pushing to establish a 'new citizen-participation progressive party' that will lead progressive innovation as an alternative to the Justice Party," and added, "The founding of a new progressive party is the only way to save progressive politics on the brink."

They criticized the Justice Party, which declared its reestablishment, saying, "It is unclear what the reestablishment is for, and no change can be expected," and "It is not a challenging founding but a conclusion forced by survival measures, and failure is anticipated."

They also targeted the political union 'Third Power,' led by lawmakers Ryu Ho-jeong and Jang Hye-young, stating, "From the last general election to the presidential election, key politicians of the party, including lawmaker Sim Sang-jung, have amplified and condoned the voices of groups like Third Power," and claimed, "(Third Power) regarded progressive politics as old politics and a target for dismantling."

They added, "Ultimately, those involved in the new party founding mentioned by the current Justice Party leadership are also part of this," and questioned, "How can a party with no minimum self-purification ability rebuild progressive politics?"

Meanwhile, the Justice Party declared on the 25th of last month its reestablishment through alliance with third political forces centered on labor and green political groups. However, the Justice Party drew a line against alliances with independent lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja, formerly of the Democratic Party, and former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, who recently announced the founding of a new party.

As the wave of new party formations intensifies in the political arena, the defection within the third party Justice Party itself is expected to inevitably bring changes to the progressive camp ahead of next year’s general election.

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