[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] On the 29th, former Bareunmirae Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo announced his resignation from the party, while the Innovation Integration Committee, which is promoting the unification of moderate conservatives, stated its intention to make efforts to include former lawmaker Ahn in the integration.
Park Hyung-joon, chairman of the Innovation Integration Committee, met with reporters after holding a meeting at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the same day and said, "At today's Innovation Integration Committee meeting, we discussed that it would be desirable to embrace former lawmaker Ahn as well." Former lawmakers Kim Young-hwan and Moon Byung-ho, who are classified as former Ahn Cheol-soo faction members, joined the Innovation Integration Committee that morning, but former lawmaker Ahn drew a line by saying it was "an individual choice of the lawmakers."
Seemingly aware of these remarks, Chairman Park said, "We are also cautious," but added, "It is best for the Innovation Integration Committee itself to have former lawmaker Ahn participate, and we will make various efforts." He continued, "We are looking for opportunities to have a conversation with former lawmaker Ahn, and since a strategic choice will have to be made around mid-next month, we will wait and see."
Regarding former Governor Kim Moon-soo teaming up with Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon to establish a new party, he said, "There is currently no special discussion," and added, "The integration we hope for is to create a unified new party by bringing together the civic society forces in the square, the Liberty Korea Party, the New Conservative Party, and many moderates. So, the general trend is moving in that direction, and ultimately, we will have to see the extent of participation."
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