Reform New Party Grappling with Exit Strategy Amid 0% Range Female Voter Support

Preparing Pledges to Improve Women's Rights
Role of Former Lawmaker Ryu Ho-jeong Also Emerging

Lee Jun-seok's Reform New Party has unveiled a strategy to target female voters in order to break the stagnation in its approval ratings. The party recognizes the limitations of relying solely on its core support base of 'I-dae-nam (men in their 20s)' voters, whose support remains in the single digits.

According to political circles on the 11th, the Reform New Party is preparing additional pledges to improve women's rights. This is the party's second female support policy following the '3·3·4 Mandatory Parental Leave for Moms and Dads' announced on the 8th. The 3·3·4 mandatory parental leave policy requires parents to take turns using parental leave, with the government paying 100% of the ordinary wage. Party leader Lee Jun-seok stated, "We consider the female voters' support very important," adding, "We plan to release many pledges aimed at enhancing their status."

The party's move to strengthen female support policies comes as it takes recent party approval rating survey results seriously. According to a poll conducted by Gallup Korea from the 20th to the 22nd of last month, surveying 1,003 adults nationwide, the Reform New Party's support rate among female voters was recorded at 0%. This is lower than minor parties such as the Green Justice Party at 2%, New Future at 1%, and the Progressive Party at 1%.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Within the party, there are opinions that excluding women will make it difficult to win the general election. A representative example is the party's pledge for mandatory female conscription. To address the shortage of military personnel, the party proposed mandatory military service for female public officials in police, firefighting, and correctional services. However, among female voters, this was perceived as an 'anti-women policy,' sparking controversy.

However, it remains uncertain whether the Reform New Party's female policies will actually lead to improved approval ratings. There are concerns that expanding female voter support might risk losing the core support base of I-dae-nam voters. In fact, political circles analyze that the 3·3·4 mandatory parental leave policy is not solely for women but focuses on parents who give birth. A key figure in the Reform New Party said, "One of the biggest concerns during the third-party big tent process was the fusion with feminism represented by former lawmaker Ryu Ho-jeong," adding, "After visually confirming some loss of support, we were cautious about female support policies."

As the general election approaches, changes are also being sensed among party members. There are calls for the party to strengthen female policies to address issues such as population structure problems caused by low birth rates. The role of former lawmaker Ryu, who is running in Seongnam Bundang-gap, is also being discussed within the party. Initially, party leader Lee Jun-seok commented that "it would be difficult for her to establish a mainstream position," but recently he said about Ryu, "We can work together and align our intentions during the election process."