Voices Calling for 'Third Zone New Party Formation' Grow in Justice Party... Lee Jeong-mi Urges "Caution"

In the by-election for the mayor of Gangseo District, where the Justice Party recorded a vote share in the 1% range, triggering aftershocks such as calls for the "total resignation of the leadership," voices within the party are growing louder, urging the formation of a "third zone party." However, Justice Party leader Lee Jeong-mi emphasized the need for caution, citing the past example of the People’s Party.

On the 17th, on SBS's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' Lee said, "We can discuss how to frame alliances and coalitions with such forces, but we need to be more cautious about immediately coming together as one party," distancing herself from the idea.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee’s remarks came as the party’s youth group has recently advocated for the creation of a "third zone new party" following the crushing defeat in the Gangseo District by-election. The political union 'Third Power,' led by lawmakers Ryu Ho-jeong and Jang Hye-young, issued a statement the day before, arguing that "the Justice Party’s line should shift toward founding a third zone new party."

Their proposal is to join forces with groups such as 'New Choice,' led by former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, and 'Hope of Korea,' led by lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja, to launch a third zone new party. They stated, "Political forces aiming to break the two-party system should gather in the third zone and establish a new party," adding, "The Justice Party must unify alternative forces to the two major parties and choose the path of building a third party."

However, Lee believes that while alliances with the third zone are possible, uniting into a single party is difficult. The People’s Party, a representative third zone party in the past, also split due to internal disagreements and ultimately merged with the People Power Party, ending its "political experiment." Lee said, "Even in the case of the People’s Party, people with different ideas came together to form the party, but it could not be sustained. We have seen such experiences," adding, "In politics, not everything has to move within a single party; there is also the possibility of cooperation."

With the two-party dominance between the ruling and opposition parties becoming entrenched, the position of third zone parties is precarious. Lee said, "The two-party system has become quite solidified, and many political forces trying to claim the status of a third party in Korean society have opened and closed that path repeatedly," adding, "only the Justice Party has continuously maintained this third party status for 11 years."

She expressed regret, saying, "Currently, intermediate zone voters have nowhere to turn, and politics is swayed by the consolidation of strong supporters of the two major parties. It seems the Justice Party is facing deepening concerns in this situation."

As a way to break the entrenched two-party structure, she mentioned proposing alternatives to the climate crisis and solutions to inequality. Lee said, "We must actively address the climate crisis, which can be called a climate catastrophe, and propose alternatives. Also, we need to offer more fundamental solutions to inequality, especially between regions and generations."

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