Son Hak-kyu, Bareunmirae Party Leader, Announces Resignation... "Will Serve as a Rank-and-File Member"

On the 24th, Party Leader Resignation and Three-Party Merger
Regarding the Three-Party Integration: "No Return to Regional Parties"
"Will Play a Role in the 'Constitutional Amendment Movement' After the General Election"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Sohn Hak-kyu, leader of the Bareunmirae Party, declared on the 20th, "I will resign as the party leader on the 24th and serve as an ordinary party member in white clothes."

On the same day, Sohn held a press conference at the National Assembly and said, "The Bareunmirae Party has decided to merge with the Alternative New Party and the Party for Democracy and Peace."

He explained, "I have been working to integrate with the young future generation to prepare for generational change. Among various political forces, I have consistently engaged with a particular organization and prepared for integration. However, recently, that organization made excessive demands to persuade Bareunmirae Party members and officials, causing the integration process to break down."

He added, "Afterwards, the Bareunmirae Party accelerated the merger process with the Alternative New Party and the Party for Democracy and Peace, leading to today's merger declaration."

Sohn emphasized, "It is true that I was passive in the integration process because I believed that the three-party merger should not end with a return to regional parties. I thought that opportunistic mergers and splits for election convenience were not proper politics."

Sohn stated, "I am also ashamed that the sudden push for the three-party merger was due to disruptions in receiving government subsidies caused by the defection of lawmakers such as Lee Chan-yeol in early February. Even after forming the three-party integration promotion committee and appointing a chairman, the active promotion of the merger was delayed for that reason."

Sohn said, "Now that integration with the younger generation has become difficult, I could not just hold on to my principles and remain inactive when I think of candidates who have registered as preliminary candidates in various regions but cannot move, regional chairpersons who cannot even register as preliminary candidates due to the party's chaotic situation, and party members who cannot do anything because they do not know whether our party's number will be 3, 4, or 20."

Sohn declared, "We have a mission to open reformist politics of moderate pragmatism and give hope to the people. I sincerely hope that the unified party will lead and become a main player in a new realm of Korean politics."

Sohn concluded, "I will do my best to develop Korea's industry and people's livelihood and to open new politics for peace on the Korean Peninsula. I will also play a small role in the constitutional amendment movement that will unfold after the general election to eliminate old-fashioned politics of conflict and power struggles."