Yong Hye-in Proposes 'Reform Alliance New Party'... "Lee Jun-seok's New Party Is Just Ahn Cheol-soo-style Political Rehash"

Geum Tae-seop and Yang Hyang-ja Target New Party, Criticize "Low-Quality Politics"
"Stop Election-Engineering Abacus Play... Major Shift Needed"

Yong Hye-in, a member of the Basic Income Party, announced on the 24th that she will run in next year's general election and will promote the 'Reform Coalition New Party,' which unites the progressive camp. At a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Office on the same day, Yong said, "I will definitely lay the foundation for a progressive regime change."

Yong stated, "Far-right ideological forces have seized power in the presidential office and various government sectors, suppressing all areas of society including politics, media, broadcasting, academia, civil society, and labor, trampling on the constitution and democracy. The task for the democratic progressive camp at this point is clear. We must stop the Yoon Seok-yeol administration as soon as possible, reform South Korean politics, and achieve a progressive regime change," she emphasized.

Yong Hye-in, leader of the Basic Income Party, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 24th to announce her plans for the 22nd general election. [Image source=Yonhap News]

She continued, "Cries of 'We can't live like this anymore' are erupting everywhere, yet responsible politics cannot be found anywhere," adding, "Therefore, it is only natural that the people feel anger and disillusionment."

Yong evaluated the recently mentioned new party formations in the political sphere negatively. She criticized, "Those advocating election-engineered new parties aiming for the third zone still only chant about a few seats in the metropolitan area, a few in Honam, and a few in Daegu," and said, "They are misleading public outrage with election-engineered calculations aimed at the survival of a few celebrities."

Yong specifically mentioned former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok, stating, "'Lee Jun-seok's new party' is the height of absurdity. Its essence is obvious. It is just a rehash of Ahn Cheol-soo-style unoriginal new politics and contentless centrist politics." She added, "While reaching out here and there and calling for an 'Anti-Yoon coalition,' Lee Jun-seok has not promised any reform direction to change the lives of the people." She also said, "What the 'Geum Tae-seop new party,' 'Yang Hyang-ja new party,' and even some factions of the Justice Party have shown so far is politics that repays old evils with old evils, truly a poor-quality form of politics."

Yong said, "I believe that for the democratic progressive camp to truly win, it must not fight simply as 'Anti-Yoon' but confront with reform politics aimed at a great transformation to lift South Korea out of crisis," and added, "Even if it means temporarily putting aside the name of the Basic Income Party in this general election, I promise the people that we will achieve victory in the general election through an electoral coalition party."

Yong specifically presented visions such as responding to the climate crisis, fostering advanced strategic industries, and national integration. She continued, "The Basic Income Party wants to first unite with those who agree with this broad direction of transformation," and emphasized, "I will move forward without hesitation with the determination to establish a new party for the success of the Reform Coalition New Party in next year's general election."