Bareunmirae, Peace, and Daean New Party Condemn 'Trick Parties'... "Future Korea Party Should Not Be Recognized"

Yuseong Yeop, Chairman of the Alternative New Party Integration Promotion Committee (from left), Cho Baesuk, Floor Leader of the Democratic Peace Party, Sohn Hakkyu, Leader of the Bareunmirae Party, and Chung Dongyoung, Leader of the Democratic Peace Party, are attending the "Emergency Forum to Reform the Election System and a Great Transformation of Korean Politics, to Eradicate Trick Parties Undermining the Mixed-Member Proportional Representation System" held at the National Assembly on the 22nd. Photo by Yoon Dongju doso7@

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[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] On the 22nd, the Bareunmirae Party, the Party for Democracy and Peace, and the Alternative New Party gathered in one place for a debate criticizing the satellite party for proportional representation established by the Liberty Korea Party. They condemned the Liberty Korea Party’s establishment of the ‘Future Korea Party’ as a cunning trick.

Son Hak-kyu, leader of the Bareunmirae Party; Jeong Dong-young, leader of the Party for Democracy and Peace; and Yoo Seong-yeop, chairman of the Alternative New Party’s integration promotion committee, attended the emergency debate hosted by the Party for Democracy and Peace titled ‘Emergency Debate to Eradicate Cunning Parties Undermining the Mixed-Member Proportional Representation System’ held at the National Assembly Members’ Office Building, where they delivered sharp criticisms.

Leader Son said, “I don’t understand how such an idea could come up?to create a proportional representation party to ruin the mixed-member proportional representation system. Apparently, it is legally possible,” adding, “Hwang Kyo-ahn, the leader of the Liberty Korea Party, is someone who served as Minister of Justice. Because he only interprets the law literally, such cunning tricks emerge.”

Leader Son continued, “How can such a person aspire to be president? I don’t understand how such a person served as Prime Minister and Acting President,” and said, “It is not appropriate for politicians to get angry or raise their voices, but I am truly angry. The National Election Commission should not recognize the Future Korea Party as a legitimate party because it violates the spirit of the law.”

Leader Jeong said, “This is the first election held after electoral reform, and the history of politics has reflected the intent and spirit of that reform,” adding, “I expect that the purpose of the electoral reform?to overcome the two-party system and establish a firm multi-party system?will be realized through the will of the people.”

Leader Jeong also said, “Because the system is incomplete, the reform process for a fully proportional mixed-member system must begin immediately after the general election,” and “At the same time, this is inevitably linked to constitutional reform for a decentralized presidential system. These two tasks should be pursued together with the opening of the 21st National Assembly.”

Chairman Yoo criticized, “I cannot hide my disappointment and outrage toward the Liberty Korea Party, which has obstructed the system that was introduced, albeit insufficiently,” and said, “There is no need for further criticism toward the Liberty Korea Party, which approaches this with tricks and cunning. It is truly shameless.”

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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Park Joo-hyun, senior member of the Party for Democracy and Peace, claimed that satellite parties are illegal parties. As evidence, she cited that satellite parties are not voluntarily organized and omit the purpose of the party as stipulated in the Political Parties Act. Park pointed out that in the case of the Future Korea Party, the Liberty Korea Party’s secretariat staff were made to join as founding members of the satellite party, violating Article 42 of the Political Parties Act prohibiting forced membership and Article 54 prohibiting forced admission.

Kim Jun-woo, deputy secretary of the Lawyers for a Democratic Society, also stated that satellite parties are unconstitutional as they undermine the fundamental party and electoral systems guaranteed by the Constitution and the Political Parties Act. Kim emphasized, “However, the current system has limited means to prevent satellite parties,” adding, “In the short term, it is appropriate for voters to judge them, and in the mid to long term, amendments to the Public Official Election Act should be made.”

The debate also touched on the integration of the third political bloc. Cho Bae-sook, floor leader of the Party for Democracy and Peace, said, “Some say there is no justification for the third bloc to integrate, but there is sufficient justification. Rather, there is no reason for them to remain scattered,” and emphasized, “I hope that this debate will serve as an opportunity for the centrist reform forces to unite and overcome the general and presidential elections for the future of the Republic of Korea.” Chairman Yoo also said, “The goal and outcome of the debate should be to explore integration or political realignment among existing parties that can proceed with an appropriate mixed-member proportional representation system.”

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