[Interview] Heo Eun-a, Leader of the Reform New Party, "We Will Build a Party on the Side of Common Sense and Public Sentiment"

Bill No.1 Aims to Lower Barriers to Political Entry
Policy Casting Voter Role Between Minju and Gukim
Top Priorities: Organizational Overhaul and Expanding Talent Pool

"The Reform New Party will act as a political party that stands for what is right, common sense, and the will of the people."

Heo Eun-ah, leader of the Reform New Party, said in an interview with Asia Economy on the 28th, "Our party will be a party that values whether it is a responsible party, a fair party, or a common-sense party more than whether it is conservative or progressive." She added, "I believe our supporters back us not because they support the party’s ideology, but because we have been on the path they thought was right until now."

Leader Heo emphasized that the Reform New Party is a party that thinks about the future. She said, "Looking at the composition of our party members, those in their 40s make up the largest portion, followed by those in their 50s and 30s, yet they support the relatively smaller 10s and 20s age groups and consider agendas about the future these young people will live in." She continued, "The younger generation is quite smart, unlike when we were their age. They know how to raise their voices against unreasonable parts of the government’s haphazard policies," and explained, "We will raise those voices together with them."

Heo Eun-ah, leader of the Reform New Party, is being interviewed by Asia Economy.

In that sense, the Reform New Party is preparing to revise the election law as the first bill of the 22nd National Assembly. The goal is to lower the entry barriers to institutional politics. Leader Heo said, "While running in the general election as a new party, we deeply felt that there are parts that need improvement in the electoral district system and election campaigns," and added, "Ahead of the local elections, we are prioritizing the revision of the election law to make it easier for politically disadvantaged groups to enter elections." Specific details will be disclosed soon after consultations with the party leadership.

Regarding the role within the two-party dominant structure, she said, "We are currently cooperating with the Democratic Party on the special prosecutor law for Chae Sang-byeong, and we agree with the People Power Party’s structural reform approach that links basic pensions with demographic structure and life expectancy on pension reform issues," adding, "We will not oppose the ruling party’s actions just for the sake of opposition because we are the opposition." This emphasized the role of a casting voter based on policy judgment.

On the possibility of forming a parliamentary negotiation group with small opposition parties such as the Jo Guk Innovation Party, she said, "If the values align and the bills are reasonable, I think we can form alliances or cooperate," but drew a line by saying, "A mere opposition alliance to expand forces will not be accepted by the public."

Heo Eun-ah, leader of the Reform New Party, is being interviewed by Asia Economy.

Leader Heo is currently prioritizing the reorganization of the party. She plans to expand infrastructure and the talent pool for the local elections. She expressed her ambition, saying, "The party has started recruiting organizational chairpersons through the Special Committee for Organizational Strengthening," and "After completing the reorganization of party branches and city/provincial parties, we will secure talent through political schools."

Regarding the party name change to "Hope of Korea," she said, "First, I will check what promises were made among the parties involved and what procedures were followed," and avoided giving a definite answer by saying, "Changing the party name is not something I can do alone; I need to understand the situation and discuss it with the leadership."

Leader Heo showed strong determination to gain power, saying, "The Reform New Party will be on the path that the people hope for and think is right, not where they worry," and "We will build a foundation to become a party that produces a president."