Uri Party Defectors Desert CRDP to Create New Party

On July 24, a lawmaker participating in the preparation committee for a “third zone” new party said, “We may become professional defectors.”

He is one of the 20 Uri Party defectors, including Representative Kim Han-gil, who created the Centrist Reformists Democratic Party (CRDP). Nineteen of them, excluding Shin Guk-hwan who deserted the People First Party, will have changed their party membership four times once the new party is launched officially next month.

The first defection took place on February 6 when 23 Uri Party lawmakers deserted.

Representative Kim and other defectors created a new party named the Centrist Reformists Integrative Party (CRIP) on May 7, announcing, “The new party will provide a base for a third zone integration.”

However, six of the defectors did not join the new party, saying, “The new party will be an obstacle to integration.” There were critiques of Kim clinging to his political shares and initiative.

On June 27, two months after it was created, the party was combined with the Democratic Party into the CRDP. The defectors once again participated in the new party preparation committee on July 24. An Uri Party defector said, “How can Representative Kim be co-chairman of the preparation committee while maintaining his membership?” Another first-time lawmaker pointed out, “Representative Kim’s contribution to the integration of pro-ruling party forces may be recognized, but another defection will be a serious burden on other defectors.”

Kim responded, “I concluded that it is an unavoidable decision since we are determined to fall and die as grains for our new life.” Kim and others argued, “Our defection is an inevitable choice to stand by our original cause to become the seeds for a grand integrative new party.”

If the CRDP does not join them in their launch of a new party next month, the defectors will lose 1.27491 billion won of subsidy that they received for the CRIP since the CRDP has the right to the subsidy.

On the other hand, 15 Uri Party lawmakers, including Jeong Dong-chae, Yoo In-tae, and Song Yeong-gil, and four CRDP lawmakers deserted their parties to join the new party preparation committee.

The new party is expected to become the second largest in the National Assembly with 85 lawmakers, including Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Hong-eop, who will join the committee on July 25.

mindy@donga.com