By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Rep. Yoo Jay-kun Thursday joined the Liberty Forward Party (LFP), led by conservative politician Lee Hoi-chang, after bolting from the pro-government United New Democratic Party (UNDP) a day earlier.
Another lawmaker, Park Sang-don, also left the UNDP and joined the conservative party the same day. As a result, the UNDP's National Assembly number of seats has decreased to 135 in the 299-member legislature, while that of the LFP, which merged with the People First Party early last month, increased to seven.
A former lawyer, Yoo became famous hosting a TV debate show. He was elected to the Assembly for the third consecutive time.
He currently serves as a member of the executive committee at the Inter-Parliamentary Union after having worked as chief of staff for former President Kim Dae-jung in 1997.
He explained that he deserted the UNDP due to disappointment with the party failing to rally against controversial issues like FTAs with the United States.
As a result, the minority party merged with the People First Party early this month and gained a total of seven Assembly seats, which is one more seat than the Democratic Party.