Proposal Made at General Assembly as Unification Conflict Intensifies
"Forced Unification Undermines Principle of Legitimacy," Claims Lawmaker
A conflict appears to be brewing between the People Power Party leadership and its presidential candidate Kim Moonsoo over the unification of Kim's candidacy with Han Deoksoo, an independent presidential pre-candidate. In the midst of this, Yoon Sanghyun, a member of the People Power Party, proposed that 20 members of the party should leave, form a new party, and recruit Han in order to pursue a 'party-to-party unification' with Kim.
According to Yonhap News, citing multiple attendees of the general assembly, Yoon stated at the parliamentary meeting held at the National Assembly on May 8, "If the unification negotiations between the two candidates break down today, let's consider 'unification before the 11th' to be off the table." He added, "Let's change our approach and have 20 party members leave for a 'third zone.'"
Yoon Sanghyun, a member of the People Power Party, is answering questions from reporters at the National Assembly on March 25, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
Yoon went on to say, "If unification becomes difficult before the candidate registration date, the next opportunity for unification would be before the ballot printing. If that happens, an independent candidate could end up with a much lower ballot number. But if about 20 lawmakers leave, we could secure ballot number 3." He is also reported to have suggested, "After forming the new party, let's bring together Han and Lee Nakyeon, the Standing Advisor of Saeromirae, to establish a third zone, and then achieve unification with Kim before the ballots are printed on the 25th of this month."
Yoon further stated, "Forced unification by the party leadership without the candidate's consent undermines the principle of procedural legitimacy and could spark controversy over intra-party democracy," and diagnosed, "If a legal dispute arises, the very existence of the party could be threatened." He is also reported to have said, "This would not be a unification that leads to victory, but one that leads to defeat." However, it is understood that no further discussion took place regarding Yoon's proposal.
Meanwhile, on the same day, Yoon wrote on his Facebook page, "Forced unification by the party leadership could destroy the principle of procedural legitimacy and intra-party democracy," and pointed out, "If things continue this way, the party will fall into endless legal disputes, putting its very existence at risk." He further emphasized, "Such unification brings neither inspiration nor synergy," and added, "It is not a victory without principles, but a defeat with principles that will open the way forward."
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