3 ex-DPK lawmakers launch new party ahead of April elections
Reps. Lee Won-wook, left, Kim Jong-min, center, and Cho Eung-cheon, right, as well as former lawmakers Jeong Tae-keun, second from left, and Park Won-suk, hold a press conference to announce the launch of a new party, at the National Assembly in Seoul, Jan. 12. Yonhap
Three lawmakers who left the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) earlier this week announced Friday they plan to launch a new party ahead of April's general elections.
Reps. Cho Eung-cheon, Kim Jong-min and Lee Won-wook left the DPK on Wednesday after their demands for party reforms, including the resignation of party leader Lee Jae-myung, were rejected. Their departures also came amid speculation they are unlikely to win party nominations in the upcoming elections.
A day later, former DPK leader Lee Nak-yon also quit the DPK.
"We cannot change people's lives unless we destroy the bulletproof and hegemonic politics, the winner-takes-all politics of hatred and confrontation, and the politics for selective people of incompetence and irresponsibility," Cho said in a press conference.
Along with the three lawmakers that left the DPK, two former lawmakers, Park Won-suk and Jeong Tae-keun, were present at the conference. Park and Jeong each left their respective parties — the minor opposition Justice Party and the ruling People Power Party — on Thursday.
"Let's move from a country of the conservatives and the liberals to a country for everyone," Park said.
The new party is expected to begin talks to unite with Lee Nak-yon, a former DPK leader, and other prominent political figures who have signaled plans to form new parties ahead of the elections. (Yonhap)