Big tent party breaks up just 11 days after coalition

Lee Nak-yon, co-chairman of the Reform Party, announces his departure from a big tent party consisting of breakaway groups of major liberal and conservative parties, during a press conference in Seoul, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps

Lee Nak-yon, a former chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and co-chairman of the big tent political group, Reform Party, withdrew his agreement to join the coalition camp on Tuesday, citing a failure by the members of the group to integrate.

In response to Lee Nak-yon's departure, Lee Jun-seok, the other co-chairman and the former chairman of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), expressed regret over the division but pledged to revitalize the party through policy initiatives.

Lee Nak-yon of the Saemirae Party agreed to merge with the Reform Party led by Lee Jun-seok on Feb. 9, hoping to become a viable alternative for voters who have grown weary of the DPK and the PPP. But he and his followers decided to leave just 11 days after a number of breakaway political groups agreed to unite under the Reform Party.

During a press conference, Lee Nak-Yon said he will realign the Saemirae Party and waste no more time preparing for the April 10 general elections. The Saemirae Party and the Reform Party were not legally merged until Tuesday.

“Our hasty merger resulted in a shameful outcome,” Lee Nak-yon said. “The merger was necessary for a political reform … but the agreement between parties was broken as the Reform Party’s Supreme Council forcibly voted to allow a particular individual to have full authority over the party’s election campaigns.”

Lee Nak-yon was referring to Monday's meeting of the Supreme Council, whose members voted to allow the former PPP chairman to have full authority over the party’s campaigns for the general elections. The former DPK chairman stormed out of the meeting to protest the vote, while his aides accused Lee Jun-seok of “shattering the spirit of unity.”

“They stigmatized and excluded specific individuals,” Lee Nak-yon said. “We are left with no choice but to return to the pre-consensus stage. But our original intentions (to become an alternative choice for voters) remain steadfast and have even been reinforced. We will return to our roots.”

Lee Jun-seok, co-chairman of the Reform Party, bows during a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

An hour later, Lee Jun-seok held a press conference and apologized to the public for the Reform Party’s failure to unite with the Saemirae Party.

“I don’t want to blame anyone. Though I have much to say, different claims and consequent interpretations will end up making the people raise their eyebrows,” Lee Jun-seok said.

“The Reform Party will prove with its quality policies and distinctive messages, while making efforts to provide better options for voters who are sick of the hostility of the rival parties.”

Despite the Saemirae Party’s departure, the former PPP chairman said the rest of the political groups that joined the Reform Party, such as the New Party led by former lawmaker Keum Tae-seop and Principle and Common Sense led by Reps. Lee Won-wook and Cho Eung-cheon, remain within the party.

As the Saemirae Party bolted from the big tent, doubts are growing as to whether the Reform Party can stay afloat until the general elections, considering that it was created via an abrupt merger of conservatives who followed Lee Jun-seok and several liberal political groups, including some hardliners. The former PPP chairman has been criticized by his supporters who claim that the Reform Party will end up being controlled by the liberals.

Against that backdrop, the two Lees butted heads over Lee Jun-seok’s demand for control of the Reform Party’s election campaign last weekend, while the Reform Party’s support rate remains at a disappointing level.

As the Saemirae Party exits, its lone lawmaker, Rep. Kim Jong-min, also left the Reform Party, with the party having four serving lawmakers. Earlier this month, the Reform Party received a 660 million won ($494,270) subsidy given by the National Election Commission to political parties with more than four and fewer than 20 serving lawmakers. Lee Jun-seok said the party will return the subsidy.