Minor party defectors vow economic, political reforms by joining ruling party

Two influential politicians of a minor conservative party said Thursday they are joining the ruling camp to help strive for balanced economic growth and continued political reforms.

Rep. Lee Myoung-soo and Sejong City Mayor Yu Han-sik of the Advancement and Unification Party (AUP) held a joint news conference at the National Assembly in Seoul to announce their defection to the Saenuri Party, which could signal a realignment of the political landscape ahead of the Dec. 19 presidential election.

Both Lee and Yu carry significant weight in the central Chungcheong provinces, where voters have sometimes determined the fate of presidential candidates in their election bids.

Lee is a two-term lawmaker in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, about 95 kilometers south of Seoul, while Yu is the first mayor of the new administrative hub of Sejong City, located in the same province.

"(We) have thought hard about what would be the right path not only for Sejong City and Asan, but also for Chungcheong and the country," Lee said at the conference, recalling the AUP's crushing defeat in the April parliamentary elections.

As members of the ruling party, the lawmaker said they hoped to work for freedom and democracy as well as balanced economic growth across regions.

"(We) wish to join a political party that is able to continue down the path of political reform, and contribute to realizing the people's desire for a different type of politics," Lee said.

Asked by reporters whether the Saenuri Party set any conditions for joining the party, he said, "There were no prior discussions about terms or conditions."

After Lee and Yu submit their applications, the Saenuri Party is expected to evaluate and determine whether to accept them.

Both the lawmaker and the mayor told reporters separately on Wednesday that they felt their party was too weak to help them achieve their objectives in the parliament and in Sejong City.

Lee's defection will reduce the AUP's seats in parliament to four. Of the 300-member-strong Assembly, Saenuri has 148 lawmakers, followed by 128 belonging to the main opposition Democratic United Party, 13 from the minor progressive Unified Progressive Party and six independents. (Yonhap)