In September last year, "Firmly Unite with the Party for Democracy and Peace"
Resigned as President of the Small Business Federation One Day Before Joining the United Future Party
[Asia Economy Reporter Wondara] Former Small Business Federation Chairman Choi Seung-jae has joined the United Future Party. Given his previous declaration of alliance with the Democratic Peace Party, the predecessor of the Minsheng Party (tentative name), this move is seen as a progressive step.
On the morning of the 26th at 10 a.m., Choi attended the United Future Party's admission ceremony and expressed his ambition, saying, "To realize politics where small business owners raise their voices, I will accelerate new changes within the United Future Party."
Regarding his choice of the United Future Party, he explained, "So far, United Future Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn has shown exceptional interest by visiting the Small Business Federation, discussing current issues, and expressing sincerity by talking about a society where ordinary people can have hope, which I appreciated and trusted."
In response, Leader Hwang said, "We have recruited someone who has shared the life of small business owners," adding, "We will build a party like the small business owners who go among the people and take care of their hardships."
However, Choi’s joining of the United Future Party is analyzed in political circles as a progressive move. Earlier, in September, Choi held a joint press conference at the National Assembly with the Democratic Peace Party, declaring, "The plight of small business owners marginalized in policy is truly collapsing," and "We will firmly unite with the Democratic Peace Party and move toward political empowerment."
At that time, Choi explained the reason for allying with the Democratic Peace Party, saying, "The existing political circles gave no response, but the Democratic Peace Party issued a statement responding to the desperate cries of small business owners, answering and addressing their calls." He also said, "In that regard, meetings with the Democratic Peace Party leadership, including Leader Jeong Dong-young, were held, and I hope a new path opens where policies and politics for small business owners are realized."
Afterward, Choi resolved to form the ‘Small Business National Action Party Preparatory Committee’ (tentative name), held about ten on-site supreme council meetings and press briefings with the Democratic Peace Party, and on the 25th, a day before the United Future Party admission ceremony, he stepped down from his position as chairman of the Small Business Federation one year before his term expired.
A political insider said, "After officially declaring his alliance with the Democratic Peace Party, Choi intended to take roles such as co-representative and supreme council member of the Minsheng Party, but likely judged the possibility of such roles to be slim."
Meanwhile, a Minsheng Party official stated, "Although Choi has joined the United Future Party, the alliance with small business owners has not completely disappeared," adding, "We will continue to prepare policies for small business owners through initiatives such as the Hundred-Year Store Protection National Movement Headquarters."
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