The Third Zone Officially Launches... Will the 'New Choice' Shake the Democratic Party?

Yoon Sang-hyun "Third Zone New Party, Erosion of People Power Party Votes"

As third-party parties such as 'Saeroun Seontaek' led by former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop officially launch, attention is focused on whether they can bring a fresh breeze to next year's general election. Amid public opinion vetoing the two major parties reaching an all-time high, the ruling party, where the 'capital region crisis theory' is rapidly emerging, also voices concerns that third parties may erode the ruling party's votes.

On the 22nd, Yoon Sang-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, said on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' in response to the host's question, "Which side's votes do you think the third new party will erode more?" that "It will erode the People Power Party's votes," adding, "Those participating in the 'Geum Tae-seop new party' tend to lean more towards the People Power Party than the Democratic Party of Korea."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

As a four-term veteran with the capital region constituency (Incheon Dong and Michuhol Districts), he is raising the 'capital region crisis theory' along with lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo within the party. The fundamental cause of the crisis is pointed out as the current leadership focusing only on the traditional stronghold of Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) rather than the capital region.

Yoon emphasized that former lawmaker Geum once served as a co-chairman of the election countermeasures committee for Seoul mayoral candidate Oh Se-hoon, saying, "In the case of former lawmaker Geum, didn't he defect from our side?" and "Our party needs to respond to public sentiment, bring about change and innovation, and show a new form of politics to the extent that those people would stay with our party."

He said, "Let's say a third new party emerges in the capital region. The fight between the People Power Party and the Democratic Party candidates was a 1,000 to 1,500 vote battle in the last general election, so those people would play the role of a casting vote," adding, "If defectors from our People Power Party go to the third-party, it will be a decisive cause of defeat in the capital region election."

The reason Yoon views the launch of Saeroun Seontaek, led by former lawmaker Geum, with concern is because the party pursues a 'capital region-centered 30-seat new party.' Saeroun Seontaek finalized its party name on the 21st and plans to hold a founding initiators' meeting in Seoul on the 19th of next month. On the 25th, it plans to hold a 'Chimaek Politics Debate' with young people in Seocho-gu, Seoul.

Saeroun Seontaek stated, "Saeroun Seontaek has adopted the motto 'We will be a new choice in Korean politics with no options,' and agreed to establish itself as an alternative party that breaks the structural problems of Korean politics, such as the two-party vested interest system and divisive behavior," adding, "It means a party that sincerely strives to solve the problems before us beyond the old ideology and factional logic of conservatism and progressivism." Yang Hyang-ja's new party 'Hope of Korea,' which held its founding initiators' meeting in June, is also scheduled to hold its central party founding convention on the 28th and begin full-scale activities.

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