A Member of the Former Ahn Cheol-soo Faction Joins the Reform Committee... "Regretful Not to Work with Ahn Cheol-soo" (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Former lawmakers Kim Young-hwan and Moon Byung-ho, who were classified as part of the Ahn Cheol-soo faction, have joined the Innovation and Integration Promotion Committee (IIPC), which is promoting centrist-conservative integration. They expressed regret, saying, "It would have been better if former Bareunmirae Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo had joined as well," but Ahn himself drew a line, stating that it is unrelated to his political stance.

On the 29th, Park Hyung-joon, chairman of the IIPC, announced that after a 30-minute meeting with the two lawmakers at a cafe in Yeouido, the two lawmakers from the integrated new party agreed in principle to join. Earlier, Chairman Park requested their participation, saying, "To bring a train that has gone off the normal track back on track, we must overcome small differences and move toward a greater Republic of Korea."

Former lawmaker Kim said, "There is regret and sadness that former lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo could not join us today," adding, "However, considering various symbolic meanings, I think the two of us will actively work to continue participating in the integrated new party." He continued, "For former lawmaker Ahn to participate, the party must fundamentally launch as a new party with innovation. I was reassured because it contains more innovative content than expected, and I hope Chairman Park plays an important role in the founding process."

Former lawmaker Moon also stated, "The integrated new party must not become the Saenuri Party again," and added, "The integrated new party should pursue new meanings and new values, and the people should be able to feel the new progress firsthand," expressing his intention to join. The centrist-conservative faction led by the two, the National Future Forum, also agreed to attend the IIPC National Report Conference scheduled for the 31st. Jang Sung-chul, secretary of the National Future Forum, said, "The National Future Forum will actively discuss participation in the centrist-conservative integrated new party, centered on former People's Party out-of-parliament regional chairpersons who share the same will, and will be able to announce a joint opinion."

Former lawmakers Kim and Moon were classified as part of the Ahn Cheol-soo faction when they jointly launched the People's Party in 2016. However, on this day, the side of former Bareunmirae Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo drew a line, stating, "The activities of the IIPC are based on the individual political convictions of the participants and are unrelated to former lawmaker Ahn's political stance."

Chairman Park said, "After seeing the recent KBS opinion poll, I thought the integration overwhelmingly desired by the people was centrist-conservative," explaining, "Compared to others, the integration of the Liberty Korea Party, the New Conservative Party, and people from the Ahn Cheol-soo faction had support two to three times higher than other integrations." He evaluated, "I think our new party's purpose will shine more because we have the two respected individuals with us. Although they have done politics in different camps from me, they have made great efforts with the most open minds in our politics for the unity of the Korean people."