"People Power Party + People Party = Opposition Grand Unification?"... Growing Doubts, Concerns Over Negotiation Difficulties

Reaffirmation of Both Parties' Leadership Willingness to Merge
Sharp Differences Over New Party Name
Kim Jae-won "Suspects Steps to Make Merger Difficult"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] The People Power Party expressed concern over the controversy surrounding the issue of the 'new party name' in relation to the merger with the People’s Party. Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, announced that he would proceed with follow-up tasks related to the merger, such as appointing personnel for the merger working group, but voices of dissatisfaction are growing. As doubts about the other party’s intentions increase, there is also a growing concern that negotiations could potentially face difficulties.

On the 17th, Lee said at the People Power Party’s Supreme Council meeting, "The merger between the People Power Party and the People’s Party is an urgent task that cannot be postponed," adding, "Through yesterday’s visit with Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, we reaffirmed a strong consensus on the merger." He continued, "We will ensure that all party members supporting both the People Power Party and the People’s Party can coexist on one salad bowl," and said, "The formation of the merger working group is urgent. We will complete the appointment of our party’s working personnel by today."

Ahn Cheol-soo, leader of the People’s Party, also stated at the Supreme Council meeting, "The opposition must change, and we must achieve regime change next year; I believe there is no disagreement between the two sides on this," adding, "There should be no reason why we cannot share a consensus on winning the support of the entire nation, excluding the ‘blindly pro-Moon Jae-in’ faction." He further said, "There may be differences in the best methods each side has for regime change, which is why all previous unification processes involved working-level consultations," and added, "As long as both sides adhere to the principle of prioritizing regime change in discussions, finding the best method will not be difficult."

While both sides seem to agree on the cause of the merger in their public statements, their true intentions differ.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In an interview on BBS Buddhist Broadcasting’s ‘Park Kyung-soo’s Morning Journal’ on the same day, Lee said regarding the party name change issue, "Issues such as the party platform, policies, or changes to the party constitution and rules should be addressed after the merger," adding, "If there are problems, of course, we will negotiate in good faith," but also said, "Changing the party name is done when there is a need to renew the party’s status, but right now, with a surge in party membership and a positive party image, there is no reason to change it." He opposed changing the party name.

Kim Jae-won, Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, viewed the People’s Party as having hidden intentions. Kim appeared on YTN Radio’s ‘Hwang Bo-seon’s News Show’ that day and claimed, "Leader Ahn thought that if former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl did not join the People Power Party, he could become the unified opposition’s presidential candidate and thus pushed for the merger, but now that Yoon is joining, it seems he is strongly reluctant to merge." He pointed out, "It looks like they will set conditions that cannot be met and make the merger difficult." He added, "If they accept the party name, they will make other demands," and said, "I think they will continue to set conditions that make the merger difficult to achieve."