Future Grand Alliance Advocates 'Big Tent Before Lunar New Year'... Lee Jun-seok Says "Too Early" to Proceed

"Third-Party Integration Should Be Discussed Amid Holiday Sentiments"
Differences in Integration Timing Attributed to "Speed of Party Formation Preparations"

Opinions are divided regarding the timing of forming a big tent among third-zone new party lawmakers. Lee Jun-seok, the Policy Committee Chair of the Reform New Party, is hesitant about completing the third-zone unification before the Lunar New Year holiday, while Kim Jong-min, the Preparatory Committee Chair of the Future Great Alliance, is pushing for unification before the holiday.

On the 16th, Kim appeared on BBS Radio's 'Jeon Young-shin's Morning Journal' and explained the background of pushing for unification before the Lunar New Year, saying, "There is about a two-week difference between before and after the Lunar New Year, and this period is very important." The Future Great Alliance is centered around defectors from the Democratic Party such as Kim Jong-min, Lee Won-wook, and Cho Eung-cheon, as well as former Justice Party lawmaker Park Won-seok and former People Power Party lawmaker Jeong Tae-geun.

Kim said, "The goal for the merger is before the Lunar New Year," adding, "I cannot guarantee exactly when the merger will happen, but I think we should make a political goal, declaration, or promise to the people before the holiday if possible." He emphasized that public opinion for the third-zone merger should come first. He stated, "It doesn't happen just because politicians say so," and "For the will of the people who support both sides to be realized in the general election, there must be an understanding that they need to unite." He continued, "There must be a common denominator regarding what vision this party holds and what policies it will present to the people," adding, "Even if there are conservative or progressive colors, if there is a common denominator in keywords like future, dedication, and competence, public opinion and popular sentiment will form that it is acceptable for the people to unite."

Former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon (center), who left the Democratic Party, Lee Jun-seok, chairman of the Reform New Party (tentative name) Policy Committee, who left the People Power Party (left), and Kim Jong-min, preparatory committee chairman for the founding of the Future Great Alliance (tentative name), who left the Democratic Party, are smiling brightly during a tea time meeting at a cafe in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 14th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Lee Jun-seok, the Policy Committee Chair of the Reform New Party, had put the brakes on the claim that the third-zone unification must be completed before the Lunar New Year holiday, saying, "Honestly, it's too soon." Lee appeared on the YouTube channel 'Jang Yoon-seon's Reporting Convenience Store' the day before and said, "I understand the urgency due to the nomination schedule, but no matter how fast the 'Lee Nak-yeon New Party' is, it will be difficult to establish the party before the end of this month," adding, "Then it would be a merger right after the party is founded, which would be confusing for those who joined."

Park Won-seok, co-representative of the Future Great Alliance, acknowledged differences of opinion among third-zone forces, saying, "There cannot be no tension or power struggles at all." Park appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and explained the reason for advocating unification before the Lunar New Year, saying, "It needs to be a topic of conversation during the Lunar New Year public sentiment." He meant that the big tent of the third-zone new party should be a topic at the holiday dinner table. He added, "Even if it is not a physical or political unification before the holiday, there should be a political declaration or something," and "That way, voters will give the possibility that 'those forces will have a unified orientation to try something beyond the two major parties' during the Lunar New Year public sentiment."

Regarding the background of differing opinions on the timing of the merger, he pointed out, "It is due to the difference in the speed of designing and promoting the new parties." Park explained, "Lee Jun-seok's new party plans to complete the founding this week and prepare for nominations, moving forward steadily, whereas the Future Great Alliance and Lee Nak-yeon’s new party are just now considered new parties," adding, "They are trying to complete the founding as soon as possible, but there are differences in the timing each side envisions."

Discussions on the alliance among third-zone forces such as the Future Great Alliance, the Reform New Party, and Lee Nak-yeon, former Democratic Party leader’s 'New Future,' will begin this week. Park emphasized, "In unification, questions must be asked and matters must be clarified," adding, "Therefore, dialogue on values and vision is very important." He also announced, "It has been agreed that when Lee Nak-yeon, Lee Jun-seok, and Kim Jong-min meet, they will discuss what ideas and concepts to pursue," and "The dialogue will start this week."