Innovation Party Opposes Kim Minseok's '15-Seat Bloc' Proposal: "No Intention to Relinquish Privileges?"

The National Assembly Innovation Party has once again voiced its opposition to Kim Minseok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, regarding his proposal to ease the requirements for forming a parliamentary negotiation group. Although Kim suggested lowering the current 20-seat threshold to 15 seats and stated that “this is just one example” and other options, such as 10 seats, could be discussed, the Innovation Party continued to criticize even the 15-seat proposal itself.

On the 15th, a meeting of the members of the National Assembly Innovation Party was held at the National Assembly. Photo by Yonhap News

On September 18, Jung Chun-saeng, Secretary General of the Innovation Party, targeted Kim’s comments on ‘Minty07’ through a Facebook post, saying, “While claiming to act as the elder statesman of the progressive camp, he is not willing to give up his vested interests at all and is being very stingy.”

Jung argued, “In a two-party system where money, organization, and institutions are all concentrated in the two major parties, it is extremely difficult to obtain 5% of the seats. For someone who knows this very well to propose the 5% standard makes it seem as if he has no real intention of pursuing political reform.”

He went on to reference the requirements for forming parliamentary negotiation groups in major countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia, stating, “The threshold for forming a negotiation group is the highest in the world here,” and urged, “Let’s stop trying to contain and surround the National Assembly Innovation Party, and instead focus on the greater cause of political reform.”

On the morning of September 18, during the Democratic Party’s official YouTube channel ‘Minty07,’ Kim addressed the Innovation Party’s demand for a 10-seat threshold, saying, “Various options, including 10 seats, could be discussed.” However, he also claimed, “There is no clear rationale for 10 seats,” adding, “In fact, the argument for 15 seats is stronger,” providing as a basis that 15 seats is 5% of the total 300 National Assembly members.

The differences between the Democratic Party and the Innovation Party regarding the requirements for forming a parliamentary group continue, and this issue is becoming a focal point in discussions about a progressive alliance.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.