Transition to Emergency Response Committee System under Lee Seok-hyun
Kim Contemplates Individual Entry into Jo Guk New Party and Integration
Saeroun Mirae transitioned to an emergency response committee system following the total resignation of its leadership due to the crushing defeat in the April 10 general election. This decision was based on the judgment that securing new momentum for party operations through a reorganization on the level of a re-founding was necessary. Meanwhile, the possibility of forming a joint negotiation group through an alliance with the Joguk Innovation Party has been raised as an alternative. It is expected that the decision on whether and how to form an alliance will be heavily influenced by Kim Jong-min, the party’s only district-elected co-representative. Analysts also suggest that if Kim shifts from a party-to-party alliance to individual membership, Saeroun Mirae will face significant difficulties in maintaining the party.
On the 18th, Saeroun Mirae announced that former National Assembly Deputy Speaker Lee Seok-hyun accepted the position of emergency response committee chairman. Through social media that day, Chairman Lee said, "I could not refuse Representative Lee Nak-yeon’s repeated strong requests, and it was even harder to ignore the disheartened feelings of party members after the general election," adding, "I will review all processes from the party’s founding to the election defeat and reorganize with the determination of a re-founding."
The emergency committee is expected to focus on discussing ways to overcome the practical limitations of a small party. Regardless of the committee’s intentions, political circles are giving weight to the scenario where the Joguk Innovation Party and Saeroun Mirae form a joint negotiation group in the National Assembly. Securing a joint negotiation group would expand their influence in the Assembly and allow them to receive government budget support. For Saeroun Mirae, this means securing time and funds to reorganize the party and maintain its identity.
The requirement to form a negotiation group in the Assembly is a total of 20 or more seats. The Joguk Innovation Party, with 12 seats, needs to secure an additional 8 seats from the opposition. By combining the Democratic Union’s civil society seats (2 seats), Progressive Party (3 seats), Saeroun Mirae (1 seat), Basic Income Party (1 seat), and Social Democratic Party (1 seat), the Joguk Innovation Party can meet the requirements to form a negotiation group.
Kim Jong-min, Co-Representative of New Future, is holding a press conference announcing talent recruitment at the National Assembly on the 27th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@
Rising Value of Kim Jong-min... Party’s Fate Hinges on His Decision
This is why both the Joguk Innovation Party and Saeroun Mirae are closely watching Kim’s decision. Kim is deliberating between party-to-party integration and alliance or individual membership regarding his future. After a recent meeting with Mayor Choi Min-ho of Sejong, Kim told reporters, "The three opposition parties?Saeroun Mirae, the Democratic Party, and the Joguk Innovation Party?must cooperate under the grand theme of judging and replacing the regime," but added, "Whether to merge, join individually, or cooperate will be decided concretely after evaluating the recent election."
On the surface, Saeroun Mirae views the possibility of party-to-party integration and alliance with the Joguk Innovation Party negatively. This is because they believe it would be difficult to maintain the party’s identity, which claims to be the “real Democratic Party,” if merged with the Joguk Innovation Party. The Joguk Innovation Party also views the possibility of party-to-party integration with Saeroun Mirae as low. Since resolving secondary issues such as the chemical bonding of party members after integration would require considerable time, they judge that individual membership by Kim is more advantageous. There is also analysis that there is no reason to embrace Saeroun Mirae, which has failed to secure public support. Political commentator Park Sang-byeong said, "With Representative Lee Nak-yeon’s defeat and the greatly diminished influence of the third zone, there is little reason for the Joguk Innovation Party to merge with Saeroun Mirae."
Conversely, if Kim individually joins the Joguk Innovation Party, the benefits are significant. As the only district-elected lawmaker within the Joguk Innovation Party and a three-term veteran, he could aim not only for the floor leader position but also for a standing committee chairmanship. Although it ended as a mere episode, the speculation about Kim’s appointment as a special political minister in the presidential office proved that his political standing remains strong. This aligns with Kim’s emphasis on the will to judge the regime and the rationale for forming an opposition negotiation group in the Assembly. Kim plans to decide on his future, including specific alliance methods with the Joguk Innovation Party, by May at the latest.
Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, is holding a press conference on the 11th in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, condemning the prosecution and urging an investigation into Mrs. Kim Geon-hee. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
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