Lee Jun-seok and Yang Hyang-ja Merge... "New Parties Talk Big Tent but Focus on Individual Party Formation"

Reform New Party and Hanguk-ui Huimang Merge
Public Fatigue Over Jungtent Terminology
Third Force Disputes Under Negotiation, Deadline Undecided

Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform New Party, and Yang Hyang-ja, leader of Korea Hope, declared their merger on the 24th.

At a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Office on the same day, Lee and Yang stated, "We agree on each other's vision and values," and announced, "The Reform New Party is Korea Hope, and Korea Hope is the Reform New Party. Today, we declare our merger here."

Right after the merger press conference, Lee told reporters about whether they would create a new unified party name and the possibility of co-leadership, "We will inform you soon through practical consultations regarding the party leadership system and merger structure." He added, "We launched the party using Korea Hope as the slogan and Reform New Party as the official party name. After the general election, through discussions, we will decide on Korea Hope or another mutually agreed party name."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the New Future Party's view that the merger of the two leaders is a 'medium tent' and part of a future 'big tent' plan, Lee dismissed it, saying, "I understand the intention behind the term 'medium tent,' but it is not a term we have discussed or agreed upon." He continued, "I feel burdened by creating new terms like 'medium tent' that might cause fatigue among the public by overemphasizing terminology."

On the possibility of merging with New Choice and New Future, factions that left the Democratic Party of Korea, Lee said, "Within the Reform New Party, there has been discussion that continuing only with merger or political negotiations is somewhat disconnected from the original purpose of founding the party." He added, "It is important to take the first step with Korea Hope, with whom we have been coordinating differences, and regarding the other factions, I somewhat wonder if they are focusing on individual party founding atmospheres while talking about a big tent."

Lee also said, "There are parts that could be misunderstood depending on perspective, so I have conveyed such concerns, and I hope we can discuss the direction of reform and future orientation together."

Regarding Yang's future plans to run for a constituency, she replied, "We are opening the K-Belt for the future of the Republic of Korea. A decision will be made soon." Earlier, Yang proposed starting with seven advanced industry specialized complexes in Yongin-Pyeongtaek, Cheonan-Asan, Cheongju, Saemangeum, Gumi, Pohang, and Ulsan, and seven material, parts, and equipment specialized complexes in Osong, Jeonju, Gwangju, Anseong, Daegu, Changwon, and Busan as part of a future city construction plan.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the possibility of integration with former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop before the Lunar New Year holiday, Lee dismissed it, saying, "The issue is whether we can coordinate differences and dream together, not setting a date and moving forward." About meetings with other new party factions, he said, "Due to the busy founding process, we are also talking with two or three factions, but each has scheduled their founding for early February," and avoided a clear answer, saying, "As the media has reported, it is somewhat ambiguous whether to discuss mergers or alliances or to focus on individual party founding."

Yang said about the new party's number 3 symbol, "The most important thing that the public is curious about is what vision we have," adding, "Political engineering involving shifting alliances and coalitions can never gain trust." Lee also explained, "It is not about how many diverse factions gather, but whether we can set a common goal." Regarding reports that he met with Lee Cheol-gyu, a member of the People Power Party, Lee denied them as false reports.

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