28th Founding Convention, First Among Preliminary New Parties
Former Lawmaker Geum Tae-seop Also Preparing Party Formation "Founders' Meeting Next Month"
Independent lawmaker Yang Hyang-ja's new party, 'Hope of Korea,' officially launched on the 28th, becoming the first among the new party promotion groups to do so.
On this day, the Hope of Korea Central Party Founding Preparation Committee held the 'Central Party Founding Convention' at the National Assembly Members' Office Building's large conference room, declaring its official launch with about 400 party members and supporters.
Hope of Korea completed the final step of founding the central party on this day, following the Central Party Founding Promoters' Meeting on June 26, which required each provincial party to hold a founding convention after securing more than 1,000 members. Choi Jin-seok, honorary professor of philosophy at Sogang University and the founding preparation committee chairman, was appointed as the standing representative, and lawmaker Yang was elected as co-representative.
Standing Representative Choi Jin-seok emphasized on the day, "The launch of Hope of Korea is the result of philosophical and contemporary reflection, and its direction is a leap toward a leading nation and a strategic nation," adding, "The path to becoming a leading nation involves, first, industrial revival centered on science and technology; second, nurturing talent; and third, continuous innovation suited to the times."
Hope of Korea also highlighted the diversity and expertise of its leadership. The key leadership revealed on the day includes Standing Representative Choi Jin-seok, Choi Yeon-hyeok, director of the Policy Research Institute and principal of the Political School (currently a professor of political science at Linnaeus University in Sweden), Secretary-General Kim Beop-jeong (former director of the Ministry of Environment's Planning Office), Deputy Head of Strategic Planning Jeong Bo-gyeong (former head of IT planning for Samsung Display's information strategy), and spokesperson and head of public relations Kim Jin-su (former administrative officer at the National Security Office's Unification Secretary's Office).
This leadership group proposed the '8.28 National Pledge,' which embodies the new party's goals and philosophy. The pledge includes Hope of Korea's vision and solutions in ten areas: ▲Transparency and trust ▲Democracy ▲Political school ▲Science and technology ▲Eradication of privilege ▲Dialogue and compromise ▲Educational innovation ▲Institutional reform ▲Crisis response ▲Governing party. Additionally, Hope of Korea officially announced the launch of a systematic, ongoing, and advanced political school. The first term of the 'Hope of Korea Political School,' which will recruit new students starting in October, will run for 10 weeks from October 2, offering education in political philosophy, democratic systems, and persuasion techniques through methods such as 'Shadow Cabinet Group Discussions,' 'Lincoln-Douglas Small Group Debates,' and 'PMQ Policy Debates.' Choi Yeon-hyeok, principal of the Hope of Korea Political School, stated, "Whether there is an educational system that continuously produces capable leaders determines the future of the nation," explaining the purpose of establishing the political school.
The founding convention attracted significant attention with the participation of so-called 'new party promotion forces,' including former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop and Justice Party lawmaker Ryu Ho-jeong.
Co-representative Yang Hyang-ja said in her welcoming speech, "Everyone here, including lawmakers Geum Tae-seop and Ryu Ho-jeong, are partners in political reform to break the vested interests and privileges of Korean politics," adding, "We are already writing a new history. The monopoly politics of the two major parties have begun to crack, and the people have started to unite. Starting is half the battle, and the other half is to erase doubts about whether we can carry this through to the end."
The new party 'New Choice,' promoted by former lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, plans to hold its founding promoters' meeting on the 19th of next month at the Hi Seoul Youth Hostel in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. Geum, who attended the Hope of Korea founding convention, told reporters, "We will hold the promoters' meeting next month and work hard to establish the new party." Regarding the possibility of merging with Hope of Korea, he said, "Since today is the founding day, I hope Hope of Korea achieves great success." When asked about meetings with Justice Party's Ryu Ho-jeong, who is seeking a third political force, he replied, "We meet often, but the Justice Party has its own concerns and processes. We respect and support them as well."
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