Brakes Applied to 'Biryeyeo Liberty Korea Party'... Korea Party Likely to Respond with Plan B

Sim Jae-cheol "Still Many Name Candidates"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyemin and Jeon Jinyoung] The National Election Commission has put a brake on the use of the satellite party name 'Proportional Liberty Korea Party' promoted by the Liberty Korea Party. While the Korea Party protested that the commission's decision was unfair, it hinted at a 'Plan B' response. This is based on the judgment that they cannot give up the satellite party to respond to the mixed-member proportional representation system.

At present, it is highly likely that they will change the name and re-register. On the morning of the 14th, Shim Jae-cheol, the floor leader of the Korea Party, held a floor strategy meeting at the National Assembly and hinted, "There are still many candidate names for the proportional party that our party is considering." After the meeting, he told reporters, "Isn't it endless what we can insert before, after, or in the middle of 'Korea Party'?" and added, "I don't care about the name."

It is known that the Korea Party had selected two to three candidate names even before deciding on the name Proportional Liberty Korea Party. On the same day, Kim Jae-won, chairman of the Korea Party's Policy Committee, said on KBS radio, "Since the party name is still tentative, the name can be freely changed during the establishment process," and "Because several candidate names are already prepared, there will be no disruption in establishing the party."

A scenario assuming integration is also being discussed. Specifically, after founding a unified new party, they are exploring ways to use the current Korea Party's name as the name of the proportional representation party. The Our Republican Party continues to send love calls, saying they want to become the Korea Party's satellite party.

However, it seems difficult to continue using the name 'Proportional.' The Election Commission disallowed the use of 'Proportional OO Party,' explaining, "It is difficult to see 'Proportional' as a word that implies any value such as the party's policy or political belief, so it cannot be considered to have an independently important meaning," and "Rather, 'Proportional' may cause a so-called halo effect, where it is perceived as the same party that nominated the district candidates."

Kwon Soon-il, Chairman of the Central Election Commission, is presiding over a plenary meeting discussing the approval of proportional party names at the Central Election Commission in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province on the 13th. / Gwacheon = Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Regardless of the name, the possibility of blocking the formation of a satellite party by an existing party itself cannot be ruled out. An Election Commission official said in a phone call, "The approval of the party name 'Proportional OO Party' was comprehensively judged based on various criteria such as the party's policy, beliefs, and voters' perspectives, not simply whether the names are similar."

The Korea Party has shown its determination to secure a 'satellite party' by any means. Cho Kyung-tae, a Supreme Council member of the Korea Party, said on MBC radio, "There is a strong will to create a satellite party." Won Young-seop, deputy head of organization, also claimed, "The Election Commission unjustly interfered with the political will of voters who want to vote for the satellite party opposing the mixed-member proportional representation system."

The Election Commission also stated, "It is possible to apply for party registration under another name that does not violate Article 41 of the Political Parties Act," leaving the possibility of founding a satellite party open.