The Reform Committee Takes Its First Step but Already Facing Issues... Lee Eon-ju Warns "If It Becomes 'Road Saenuri Party,' It Will Be Judged"

Published 14 Jan.2020 16:02(KST)

Lee Eon-ju, the Preparatory Committee Chairperson for the Advancement Party, is holding a press conference related to the 1st meeting of the Conservative Innovation Integration Promotion Committee at the National Assembly on the 14th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Innovation Integration Promotion Committee (IIPC), which seeks the unification of centrist and conservative forces, held its first meeting on the 14th, signaling the start of the integration train, but creaking sounds are already emerging from the start. The New Conservative Party raised questions about the role and status of the IIPC, and the Future Forward Party also raised issues regarding the integration of the New Conservative Party and the Liberty Korea Party, as well as the nomination process.

Lee Eon-ju, the preparatory committee chairperson of the Forward Party, held a press conference at the National Assembly Press Hall on the 14th and criticized the New Conservative Party, saying, "One party keeps doing endless self-promotion, claiming that undecided matters have been decided, and continues to ignore other parties and civic groups by talking as if they are having a one-on-one integration with the Liberty Korea Party."

She continued, "Although we are participating in the integration discussions, if the outcome is not the innovation or generational change we envision, but rather a return of the worn-out politicians to their own league, shirking their responsibilities and using this as an opportunity to return to politics, we will firmly oppose them," adding, "If the IIPC discussions do not lead to true innovation and political force replacement, and instead develop into a 'return to Saenuri Party,' we will loudly call for an election that decisively judges them."

Regarding the Liberty Korea Party’s push for 100% public nominations and joint nominations with the New Conservative Party, she said, "We will not tolerate rumors about them deciding to conduct opinion polls among themselves or dividing shares before any discussion has even taken place in the Integration Promotion Committee," and criticized, "Opinion polls in the nomination process are a method to maintain the worst vested interests, allowing only famous people to be selected in the primaries."

On the 14th, Park Hyung-jun, Chairman of the Innovation Integration Promotion Committee, Kim Sang-hoon, member of the Liberty Korea Party, Lee Yang-su, member of the Liberty Korea Party, Ji Sang-wook, member of the New Conservative Party, and Jung Woon-cheon, member of the New Conservative Party, along with other attendees of the Innovation Integration Promotion Committee, shouted "Fighting" before the start of the first meeting. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

During the first IIPC meeting held that morning, a power struggle emerged among conservative forces. Jisang-wook, a New Conservative Party lawmaker, said in his opening remarks, "We appreciate the efforts of many lawmakers in the IIPC so far, but from our perspective, it would be better to start from a blank slate. If the IIPC’s nature so far has been a joint meeting of civic groups, now it should be understood as a stepping stone and advisory body aiming to enter the real world of politics," thereby downgrading the status of the IIPC to an advisory body.

In response, Song Geun-jon, the Forward Party’s Integration Promotion Committee chairperson, indirectly criticized the integration of the New Conservative Party and the Liberty Korea Party, which is being criticized as a 'return to Saenuri Party,' saying, "If the public perceives the integration as a 'return to ㅇㅇㅇ,' we will not be able to gain votes." Jeong Kyung-mo, vice chairperson of the People’s Voice Preparatory Committee, also said, "The integration of the Liberty Korea Party and the New Conservative Party is very important, but the public does not want conservative unification to become a return to the Saenuri Party."