Main opposition party changes name

New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) public relations chairwoman Sohn Hye-won explains about the party’s new name, “Deobureo Minjudang,” which literally means “Together Democratic Party” in English, during a press briefing at the National Assembly on Monday. / Yonhap

By Kim Hyo-jin

The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) on Monday changed its name, removing “new politics.”

The change came weeks after former party co-leader Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, who promoted new politics as key to the party’s identity, quit on Dec. 13.

An official English language name will be decided soon, the party said.

In Korean the party’s new name is “Deobureo Minjudang”, which when translated literally means “Together Democratic Party.”

The former name was introduced in March 2014, after the merger of the Democratic Party led by Rep. Kim Han-gil and the New Politics Alliance led by Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo.

The NPAD registered its new name at the National Election Commission (NEC) following the decision, party officials said.

The move is seen as an effort to erase evidence of Ahn’s grip on the party.

Rep. Ahn quit the party on Dec. 13 amid a deepening feud with NPAD Chairman Rep. Moon Jae-in over leadership of the party.

Ahn laid out his vision for a new liberal party capable of changing the government, Sunday, saying that the NPAD lacked momentum to achieve this goal. He is currently seeking to decide on a party name with fellow lawmakers who quit with him.

“Changing a package won’t convince the public that its contents are also renewed,” Ahn told reporters, expressing doubts over the NPAD’s move.

The move to change the name began in early December while the party was struggling with low popularity amid factional strife.

NPAD vice spokesman Kang Hee-yong said a new name would represent the party’s efforts to overhaul its image ahead of the general election scheduled for April 13 next year.

Since Ahn’s departure, several lawmakers’ have left the main opposition party in protest of Moon’s leadership.

Rep. Kwon Eun-hee left the party, becoming the second lawmaker whose constituency is located in Gwangju, a stronghold for the NPAD, following Rep. Kim Dong-cheol, who said that she will join Ahn’s new party.

Rep. Choi Jae-cheon, one-time chief policymaker, also quit.