Jeong Dong-young "Not Stingy in Big-Hearted Politics"
Jo Bae-suk "Progressive Opposition Must Unite"
Park Joo-hyun "People's Party Feels Responsible for Failing Expectations"
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Jeong Dong-young, leader of the Democratic Peace Party, stated on the 23rd regarding the third-party integration, "We will review it focusing on the justification and value of what the integration is for and what we will do by merging."
At the Supreme Council meeting held in a conference room inside Yongsan Station, Seoul, Jeong said, "We are not stingy about coming together in terms of big-hearted politics and the fact that we were originally family members sharing the same rice bowl."
Cho Bae-sook, floor leader of the Democratic Peace Party, emphasized, "There are goals and values to be achieved ahead of the general election," and "Although we have been divided for various reasons, we deeply feel that it is time for progressive opposition forces to unite."
Cho added, "We will continue serious discussions with Sohn Hak-kyu, leader of the Bareunmirae Party, and Yoo Seong-yeop, chairman of the Alternative New Party Integration Promotion Committee," and "In the 2016 general election, there was a consensus to pursue a multi-party system, but we reflect on our failure to do so properly and will strive to create a good political structure."
Park Joo-hyun, Supreme Council member of the Democratic Peace Party, criticized, "I feel responsible for not meeting the expectations of the wise voters who chose the People's Party," and "Especially those who forcibly pushed for conservative merger against the will of the voters and those who caused division in the Democratic Peace Party should take responsibility as a matter of political ethics."
Park said, "Since it is our duty to provide party choices to supporters in Honam and reform opposition parties, integration discussions are necessary," but added, "It is necessary to present clear values and justifications, not mere coalition and division, and to achieve integration through the advanced goal of political reform, a decentralized presidential system."
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