Park Hyung-jun "Unified New Party to Launch by the 15th of Next Month... Requesting Won Hee-ryong to Join" (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Park Hyung-jun, chairman of the Innovation Integration Promotion Committee (IIPC), which is pushing for the integration of moderate conservatives, met with Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong on the 21st to request his joining the IIPC. The plan is to unify the conservatives within this month and launch the integrated new party by the 15th of next month.

After holding a private meeting with Governor Won at Jeju Provincial Office on the same day, Chairman Park stated at a press conference, "I sufficiently explained the current situation and my reasons why Governor Won should participate in the integrated new party," revealing this intention.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Chairman Park said, "I have the thought that we need to bring in many leaders who can represent the values of the future. I came to ask for (joining the IIPC)," adding, "Governor Won is serving as an independent governor of Jeju, but I came to ask him to actively participate and play a central role in an alternative force that can save Korea and guide it in the right direction with hope."

Chairman Park urged Governor Won to make a decision before the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday this weekend. He said, "The sooner, the better, and since Lunar New Year is approaching, I expressed the hope that a decision before the holiday would contribute to the public sentiment during the holiday," emphasizing, "I fully explained my intentions today, and Governor Won also recognizes that Korean politics should not become a force that hinders progress toward the future." Governor Won responded to this request by saying he would "consider it carefully."

The deadline for launching the new party was stated to be before the 15th of next month. Chairman Park said, "The IIPC will tentatively gather all parties, forces, and individuals by the end of this month and officially promote the integrated new party next month," adding, "Physically, the deadline for the integrated new party to officially launch as a formal party is around the 15th of next month, so the IIPC must complete its work by then and transition to the Preparatory Committee for the integrated new party."

He added, "Once the Preparatory Committee is formed, the integration work will be handed over to it," and "If Governor Won participates, I hope he will play an important role from that point onward."

Regarding Governor Won's role, Chairman Park said, "Governor Won is a current governor and cannot campaign, but I believe he can function and play a role as a party in the integrated new party's birth as a new political party," adding, "Regardless of elections, he can play a significant role in developing new policies, modernizing the party, and promoting future generations." He emphasized that even if direct participation is impossible, a coalition between the integrated new party and Governor Won is possible.

Regarding the reason for pursuing Governor Won's recruitment, he said, "Governor Won has been interested in the future since his time as a member of the National Assembly, participating in the Davos Forum, and as Jeju governor, he has been trying to incorporate new technology and industrial sectors representing the future, such as climate change and electric vehicles, into Jeju," emphasizing, "His administrative experience is valuable. Combining Governor Won's experience, content, practical policy capabilities, and administrative skills with the integrated new party will be an important resource for the party to be reborn as a new political party."

Regarding the agreement between the Liberty Korea Party and the New Conservative Party on the 20th to form a two-party consultative body, he said, "The IIPC is a platform that gathers not only the Liberty Korea Party and the New Conservative Party but also a wide range of forces and individuals," emphasizing, "The basic principles and direction will be decided by the IIPC, and we have concluded discussions that the IIPC and the two parties' working-level bodies can coexist."

He also revealed plans to attract various political forces in the future. Chairman Park said, "We are in contact with many people," adding, "We are also in contact with those who correspond to the so-called moderate center, and we expect results in that area as well." This is interpreted as a remark targeting former People's Party leader Ahn Cheol-soo, who advocates for the creation of a 'moderate party.'

He said, "Looking at the content of the integrated new party, I believe those in the moderate center can agree with it," adding, "If there is a shared understanding of such issues, many people can participate, and we plan to work on gathering forces accordingly."