[Interview] Geum Tae-seop: "I Will Become the Last Hope of Politics"

"People Power Party and Democratic Party, Essentially the Same"
"Party Formation in Early to Mid-December, Discussions on Alliances Afterwards"
"New Choice, Politics Will Change if 30 Seats Are Won"

"We believe we are the last hope of politics."

Geum Tae-seop, the representative of the preparatory committee for the founding of 'Saeroun Seontaek' (New Choice), said in an interview with Asia Economy on the 21st, "If the challenge of those who want to break the two-party system (the third zone) does not succeed this time, President Yoon Seok-yeol will try to run the government more arbitrarily for the next three years. Also, the Democratic Party of Korea will call for the president's impeachment, making the whole nation feel like they are in hell."

Representative Geum particularly warned about the risk of extreme political polarization symbolized by impeachment. He said, "The main issue in next year's general election will be impeachment. The Democratic Party and its satellite and sister parties will openly talk about impeaching the president. Then the country will truly be divided," adding, "We fear Japan's lost 30 years, but Korea could experience a hard landing in just 2 to 3 years. No one is paying attention to the economy."

Geum Tae-seop, Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the New Choice Party. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

What is new about 'Saeroun Seontaek'? Representative Geum emphasized, "From the discussion stage of founding in April, we have consistently said that the current two-party system is not working," and "There must be a party where voters can make a new choice." He pointed out, "People say the People Power Party and the Democratic Party are on opposite sides, but in reality, they are the same," and criticized, "If you say something different from President Yoon, it becomes 'internal stabbing,' and if you criticize Representative Lee, you are called 'subak' (meaning watermelon, implying hypocrisy, a derogatory term used by the non-mainstream faction)." He continued, "If politics changes depending on whether 'someone has changed,' then that party is no different from the Yoon Seok-yeol Party or the Lee Jae-myung Party," and argued, "There must be a scene where people with diverse thoughts can talk and debate."

He criticized the political structure that forces adherence to 'party lines' without proper debate and shared his experience during his time in the Democratic Party. When the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Act was being discussed, he publicly opposed the bill, and then received an invitation to dinner from Representative Lee Hae-chan. After dining with Lee, Geum said, "His chief of staff said, 'The representative even bought dinner, so shouldn't you support it?'" He protested, "What kind of politics is this?" and was told, "It's the will of the Blue House and the legacy of President Roh Moo-hyun." He added, "Isn't this no different from the People Power Party now saying 'the will of Yongsan'?" The political structure that demands only obedience without debate or persuasion underlies both the People Power Party and the Democratic Party.

Representative Geum presented 'a party where debate is possible' as the goal of Saeroun Seontaek. When asked about the party's stance on the Yellow Envelope Act (Labor Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act), which serves as a benchmark between progressives and conservatives, he replied, "We want to leave the part that recognizes labor-management relations too broadly, but first fix the part recognized by the Supreme Court precedent (limiting the employer's compensation claims)." However, he added, "The important thing is not 'what stance Saeroun Seontaek takes,' but that 'politics is not functioning properly.'" He said, "The Democratic Party's goal is to draw out President Yoon's veto through the Yellow Envelope Act, isn't it? More important than any stance is respect for people or forces with different opinions."

Geum, who continues to meet with former People Power Party representative Lee Jun-seok preparing a new party, explained that he is focusing on founding rather than alliances. He said, "We are currently concentrating on the founding process," and "We cannot just wait to discuss with former Representative Lee or non-mainstream Democratic Party lawmakers, so after making progress in founding, we will prepare a foothold and continue dialogue." He added, "We plan to complete the founding process by early to mid-December," and "We are focusing on quickly establishing the party."

Below is a Q&A with Representative Geum.

- You proposed a schedule to gradually promote a parliamentary system. Why a parliamentary system?

▲ It is a long-term task. Among advanced countries with stable politics, almost none have a presidential system. The U.S. has a presidential system but is a federal state, so the situation is different from ours. Our current politics show the drawbacks of the presidential system in an extreme way. The impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye is a proud democratic legacy, but nowadays, impeachment is talked about every time you open your eyes. Every time such discussions arise, the country is divided in half. To fundamentally solve this problem, we need a parliamentary system.

- The parliamentary system is unpopular among the public.

▲ I know that bringing up the parliamentary system is not a good political strategy. But those who have done politics understand why it is necessary. Past presidents have been poorly evaluated and failed. We need to reconsider the system itself.

- You set a goal of securing 30 seats. Why 30 seats?

▲ If Saeroun Seontaek gets 30 seats, neither the People Power Party nor the Democratic Party will have a majority. Any party must talk, debate, and compromise. That is the real face of politics. That is why we aim for 30 seats. Voters do not believe unless they see actual actions. Saeroun Seontaek will enter the National Assembly and create a new system since 1987.

Geum Tae-seop, Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the New Choice Party. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

- Is 30 seats possible?

▲ Considering various conditions, it is possible. The National Assembly has 300 seats, so there is enough energy for change to get 10%. People Power Party supporters saw what happened when the Democratic Party got 180 seats. Democratic Party supporters saw that even with 180 seats, nothing was done. Both sides think this is not enough, so change can be achieved. Giving Saeroun Seontaek 10% of the seats is our task to show that politics can change.

- Are you considering alliances with the non-mainstream faction, etc.?

▲ If they have similar concerns, we can work together. Deep reflection and determination are needed from those in politics. However, such determination requires sacrifice and devotion. Slightly different directions are not a problem, but you must be confident in making sacrifices and devotion.

- There is talk of returning to a parallel voting system. Does this disrupt your election strategy?

▲ I never thought about trying a proportional party from the start. The current election law allows satellite or sister parties if proportional parties are permitted, but those are unconstitutional parties. Creating satellite parties destroys constitutional order. I have never dreamed of such a thing. I agree with the basic purpose of the mixed-member proportional representation system. But the emergence of satellite or sister parties is the worst evil among election systems. I do not have high expectations for election system reform. The election system will ultimately be made to align with the interests of major parties, and since the Democratic Party is the majority, they will make the election law most favorable to themselves. Saeroun Seontaek must achieve 30 seats in the given environment to make other promises. We do not pay much attention to how the election system changes.

- You served as the head of strategic planning in President Yoon Seok-yeol's campaign but are now taking a different path.

▲ Before the last presidential election, I consulted with former People Power Party emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in, and there was no one in the conservative party suitable to run for president. I thought if presidential candidates held the center well, the conservative party would be reborn. Then the Democratic Party could also change. I thought it would be a disaster if the faction calling some people 'tochakwaegu' (native Japanese collaborators, a term used by the Democratic Party) ruled for another five years. So I was in Yoon's camp, but after experiencing it, it was not new leadership. Good leadership brings out the potential of members, but President Yoon's leadership was 'decide and follow.' I couldn't endure that leadership, so I left (the Democratic Party), but that can't happen again. It was necessary to prevent the Democratic Party's return to power, but I thought such leadership is not what we aim for, so I left the camp.

- A group of so-called reformist lawmakers in the Democratic Party called 'Principles and Common Sense' was recently formed. What advice would you give them?

▲ Words are not important. Actions are important. Does the Democratic Party's problem get solved if Representative Lee Jae-myung retires from politics one day? No. Voters want to see people who throw themselves for the right cause rather than politicians who say the right things. Lawmakers in Principles and Common Sense will be in the dark if they leave the party because other Democratic candidates will run in their constituencies. But telling Representative Lee to 'wake up' or 'be inclusive' has no resonance. What matters is action.