Hong Joon-pyo: "Yoo Seung-min Party's Conservative Unification 'Stubbornness'... Beyond the Limit"

"Suspected to Be Mini Parties Seeking Attention and Expanding Their Size"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Former Liberty Korea Party leader Hong Joon-pyo criticized the New Conservative Party on the 17th, saying, "The tantrums that the Yoo Seung-min Party is throwing over conservative unification are exceeding the limits of tolerance."

On the same day, Hong said on Facebook, "These days, their behavior even raises suspicions that their purpose is to attract attention as a mini-party and to increase their size."

Hong emphasized, "If they have reluctantly accepted the three principles of unification, they should stop throwing tantrums and cooperate in the practical work of unification to establish a unified new party, which is the duty of a politician who takes the right path."

Hong added, "You cannot manage the world with cunning tricks," and said, "I hope they actively cooperate with the Innovation and Integration Committee to complete the blueprint before the Lunar New Year holiday."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Ha Tae-kyung, the responsible representative of the New Conservative Party, said at a leadership meeting held at the National Assembly that "depending on whether Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, responds to the proposal for a bilateral consultative body for unification talks, we may also make a significant decision," and added, "If they refuse to respond, the New Conservative Party will have no choice but to designate the Liberty Korea Party as an anti-unification force."

Ha criticized the Liberty Korea Party for being passive about forming a bilateral consultative body while emphasizing the Innovation and Integration Committee, likening it to "refusing the formal meeting of both families while proposing marriage and only exchanging polite greetings among relatives." He continued, "The attitude shown by the Liberty Korea Party seems more like pretending to unify rather than genuinely wanting unification," and said, "If they regard the reform conservative values that the New Conservative Party has protected while crossing the valley of death as mere packaging for the general election and try to use them, they should wake up immediately."

Oh Shin-hwan, co-leader of the New Conservative Party, also stated, "To put it bluntly, the Liberty Korea Party and leader Hwang must choose whether to unify with the New Conservative Party or with Our Republican Party."

Oh said, "If they intend to cross the river of impeachment and move toward reform conservatism, the answer is clear," adding, "Change and innovation cannot be done while holding a rice cake in each hand and watching each other."