Park Hyung-jun: "Yoo Seung-min's Election Alliance Violates Hyuktongwi Principles... Decide Party Stance by the 31st" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] As Yoo Seung-min, chairman of the New Conservative Party's Conservative Reconstruction Committee, proposed an electoral alliance as one of the methods for integration participation, Park Hyung-joon, chairman of the Innovation Integration Committee (Hyuktongwi), which is leading the committee, demanded that the party establish a party stance within this week, stating that an electoral alliance goes against Hyuktongwi's principles. He also indicated that if the party stance is not decided, integration would be practically difficult.

After the 8th Hyuktongwi meeting held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the afternoon of the 28th, Chairman Park told reporters, "An electoral alliance does not align with our Hyuktongwi principles. We have gathered to pursue integration, and the timetable for integration is not that flexible," expressing this view.

He said, "I think the New Conservative Party's position must be basically decided within this week," and added, "I requested that by the first public report meeting on the 31st, the party decide whether to participate in the integration as a party or not." Earlier that day, Chairman Yoo had hinted at integration through an electoral alliance by saying to reporters, "An electoral alliance and candidate unification are also options within the integration."

However, Chairman Park effectively rejected the proposal for conservative integration through an electoral alliance. He emphasized, "It seems the New Conservative Party's position has not been finally decided," and "I hope the lawmakers discuss and make a decision on integration by the 31st."

He plans to hold a public meeting tomorrow morning with Ahn Cheol-soo faction lawmakers including former lawmaker Moon Byung-ho and lawmaker Kim Young-hwan to discuss participation in the integrated new party. He said, "We plan to promote a meeting of the broad centrist conservatives tomorrow morning. Lawmaker Kim has been politically active with former Ahn Cheol-soo and shares disappointment with the Moon administration's governance, agreeing with the intent to judge it," adding, "They expressed considerable favor after seeing the values and policy direction of our integrated new party. Those present have agreed to consolidate their forces to participate in our integrated new party."

Meanwhile, at the 8th meeting held that day, Chairman Park said, "What we must always keep in mind when promoting integration is to emphasize commonalities rather than differences in thoughts and positions," adding, "Let's not only see that tangerines, oranges, and Hallabong are different but focus on their commonalities." He said, "The parties promoting integration should view each other with warm tolerance," and "Since the first integration results will be reported this Friday (31st), this week is an important turning point for innovation and integration."

New Conservative Party lawmaker Jung Woon-chun recently criticized the Ministry of Justice's personnel appointments in the prosecution, saying, "The president who told us to investigate the living power is ruining all institutions that investigate the living power," and emphasized integration by stating, "To restore shaken liberal democracy, free market economy, and the firm Korea-US alliance, we must achieve conservative grand integration to stop the Moon Jae-in administration's tyranny."

Lee Gap-san, executive director of the Pan-Citizen Coalition, also stressed, "Representative Hwang Kyo-ahn and Chairman Yoo Seung-min should relinquish vested interests by not running and join hands with all forces to travel nationwide to protect the Republic of Korea," adding, "Comrades at Gwanghwamun should not go toward division. In the April 15 general election, the Gwanghwamun faction must unite under the integrated new party to oppose that ruthless regime."

Park Sang-duk, co-representative of the Nuclear Power Joint Solidarity, also announced four resolutions decided at the joint meeting of civil society organization representatives held on the 23rd (▲Construction of the integrated new party ▲Appointment of the Korean Party's Public Official Committee members and the New Conservative Party's attempt at an electoral alliance violate Hyuktongwi agreements ▲Formation of the integrated new party preparatory committee ▲Faithful implementation of six resolutions of the joint meeting) and insisted that these be discussed as agenda items at the meeting that day.

Jeong Kyung-mo, vice chairman of the Voice of the People, said, "We requested that civil society representatives who have actively opposed and fought the Moon administration at Gwanghwamun Square be appointed as members of the Public Official Committee, but Chairman Kim Hyung-oh of the Korean Party appointed members without consulting their opinions," and emphasized, "Chairman Kim's appointment of Public Official Committee members should not become an obstacle to conservative-right integration. Whether it is the cause or not, signs of division are appearing at Gwanghwamun Square, but we must gather wisdom to go beyond division and follow the cause of integration."