Cheon Ha-ram to Serve as Preparatory Committee Chair for Gaehyeok Shindang Party
Current National Assembly Members Including Cheon Ha-yong Express Willingness to Join
Cheon Ha-ram, a lawyer who served as the chairman of the People Power Party’s Suncheon Gap district committee, announced his resignation from the party on the 29th. After leaving the People Power Party, Cheon will join the tentatively named Reform New Party being prepared by former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok.
At a press conference held at the National Assembly on the same day, Cheon stated, "I am leaving the People Power Party today," and added, "I will serve as the preparatory committee chairman for the founding of the tentatively named Reform New Party and work with the people to create a new party for the future." He explained, "After deep consideration, I judged that it is very difficult to fundamentally reform the People Power Party internally within a short period," and introduced, "I concluded that creating a new party for the future is not only necessary but also has a high chance of success."
Rather than emphasizing the reasons for his resignation, Cheon focused on presenting the reform direction of the new party. He said, "The Reform New Party will compete fiercely with other parties but will not demonize or label opponents as enemies," and added, "The main adversaries of the Reform New Party are not President Yoon Seok-youl, People Power Party Emergency Committee Chairman Han Dong-hoon, or Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, but rather the critical issues facing South Korea such as low birth rates, regional extinction, low growth, and poverty."
Regarding his candidacy for next year’s general election, Cheon said during a Q&A session with reporters, "I am not considering running in areas other than Suncheon Gap, but if other options are excluded, the resources available to the Reform New Party may be limited, so I will discuss and review the candidacy issue with party members in the future."
He continued, "I will strive to persuade more people through constant change and innovation," and promised, "I will not yield to the political prejudice that irrational sacred cows or taboo topics will cause a loss of votes; if necessary, I will address any topic and engage in broad discussions." He also showed confidence in the success of the new party. He said, "The Reform New Party possesses the know-how and key personnel that enabled the election of a 30-something first-term party leader at minimal cost," and promised, "We will prove our competence from the election process."
Cheon explained, "The reason I judged it was okay to join the new party is that people from all over the country who seemed suitable have contacted me without conditions, saying they would run in their constituencies," and added, "We have shortlisted about 60 to 80 people who are ready to run immediately. Although many are from the metropolitan area, they are spread across the country."
At the end of his resignation announcement, he appealed for support, saying, "Some may choose to parasitize power and be satisfied with a temporary position, but we have chosen not to do so," and urged, "Let us move toward a future with a better tomorrow than today."
Among the Cheon Ha-yong-in team (Cheon Ha-ram, Heo Eun-ah, Kim Yong-tae, Lee Gi-in), who formed a political alliance with former leader Lee, other members are expected to join following Cheon’s declaration. Lee Gi-in, a People Power Party member of the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly, is also scheduled to announce his position at a press conference in the afternoon. Another key member, Representative Heo, has indicated that she will announce her position separately next week. Heo, who would lose her parliamentary seat if she leaves as a proportional representative, is also reportedly considering joining the new party. However, former People Power Party Supreme Council member Kim Yong-tae chose to remain in the party.
At a press conference on the 27th when he announced his resignation, former leader Lee said during a Q&A with reporters, "Former Supreme Council member Kim did not join due to personal reasons, but we will soon know the positions of the other members of the Cheon Ha-yong-in group," and added, "I asked them to announce their intentions in the most honorable way."
Meanwhile, he also mentioned the possibility of current lawmakers joining the new party. He said, "Even without considering People Power Party lawmaker Heo Eun-ah, there are other lawmakers who have expressed their intention to join."
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