[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Amid criticism that the attempted 'party-to-party' merger between the Liberty Korea Party and the New Conservative Party is a 'return to Saenuri Party,' the 2nd meeting of the Innovation Integration Promotion Committee (IIPC) for centrist-conservative unification was held. Lee Eon-ju, the preparatory committee chairperson for the Future Forward Party, officially criticized the merger discussions between the two parties. Even within the New Conservative Party, there are differing voices regarding the merger, indicating growing pains from the start.
On the morning of the 15th, the IIPC held its 2nd meeting at the National Assembly Members' Office Building to discuss the direction of conservative unification. Attendees included Park Hyung-joon, IIPC chairman; Korean Party lawmakers Sang-hoon and Lee Yang-su; New Conservative Party lawmakers Jung Woon-cheon and Ji Sang-wook; Song Geun-jon, former chairman of the Forward Party's integration promotion committee; Kim Geun-sik, professor at Gyeongnam National University and former Ahn Cheol-soo faction member; Jung Kyung-mo, vice chairman of the People's Voice Party preparatory committee; Ahn Hyung-hwan, secretary-general of the National Integration Solidarity; Lee Gap-san, standing representative of the Citizens' Coalition for Social Movements; Park In-hwan, representative of the Right Citizens' Society Solidarity; and Park Sang-duk, representative of the Nuclear Power Citizens' Solidarity.
Notably, the IIPC is heavily populated by pro-Lee Myung-bak (pro-Lee) figures. Kim Eun-hye, former MBN special director and former Blue House spokesperson under the Lee Myung-bak administration, serves as the IIPC spokesperson, while Ahn Hyung-hwan, secretary-general of the National Integration Solidarity and founding member of the pro-Lee parliamentary group 'Together for Tomorrow,' acts as the secretary. The planning director, Jung In-cheol, a professor at Sogang University Graduate School of Economics, previously served as the presidential office's planning and management secretary, and Chairman Park also served as the Blue House political secretary, categorizing him as pro-Lee.
Before the meeting, controversy over the 'return to Saenuri Party' arose, causing discord within the unification front. It was revealed that the Liberty Korea Party and the New Conservative Party had discussions about agreeing on the public official committee chair and a 100% public primary election, which led other unification parties to express dissatisfaction. On the 14th, Lee held a press conference at the National Assembly Press Hall, criticizing the New Conservative Party by saying, "One party keeps doing endless media plays, claiming that undecided matters have been decided, and continues to act as if they are merging one-on-one with the Liberty Korea Party, disregarding other parties and civic groups." He added, "If the IIPC discussions do not lead to true innovation, political power replacement, and the launch of a unified new party, but instead develop into a 'return to Saenuri Party,' then I will loudly call for an election that decisively judges them."
The situation within the New Conservative Party is also not smooth. There are differing voices regarding the direction of unification, particularly between Yoo Seung-min, chairman of the Conservative Reconstruction Committee, and others. It is reported that partial unification plans are being considered, where Yoo, who opposes the merger, and Lee Jun-seok, young party vision committee chairman, might be excluded while other current committee members participate in the unified new party. On the 15th, after attending an expanded joint meeting, Ha Tae-kyung, co-representative of the New Conservative Party, told reporters, "We are a living party, so naturally, there are differences of opinion."
At the expanded joint meeting that day, Yoo criticized the Liberty Korea Party-centered unification. He said, "Yesterday, Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, said, 'We can even unify with our Liberty Party.' From a common-sense perspective, not just mine but the public's, can such a unification really cross the river of impeachment and overcome impeachment?" He added, "This is not just my opinion but the common-sense view of the people."
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