Four politicians pledge conservative unity, each with a different game plan
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's acquittal in his appeals trial has amplified calls for a 'grand conservative merger,' yet the main contenders — Jang Dong-hyuk, Oh Se-hoon, Han Dong-hoon and Lee Jun-seok — each have a different answer as to who should merge with whom and how.
Potential presidential contenders are competing to call for unity. Former Rep. Yoo Seung-min said on YTN Radio that unification is needed, from party chief Jang Dong-hyuk to Lee Jun-seok and Han Dong-hoon, while Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun urged on SBS Radio that all three must move forward together. Mayor Oh, meeting with lawmakers who accompanied him to court for his acquittal the previous day, said over dinner, "Let us work harder so that the conservatives excel at both unification and politics, offering hope to the many citizens who worry about the country." Rep. Lee Jun-seok also attended the gathering.
People Power Party chief Jang Dong-hyuk said in a recent interview with a media outlet, "It is not desirable to artificially push for opposition unity on a specific timetable," adding, "Even if there is a merger or coalition, we must first set clear standards for how far it can go." He remains lukewarm on unification talks.
Independent Rep. Han Dong-hoon recently said in a KBS interview that Seoul Mayor Oh is "someone we must walk with to secure victory for the conservative camp," but he has still failed to close the distance with People Power Party leader Jang. Speaking on CBS Radio the previous day, Han said he "cannot agree" with the grand-unity talk among conservative contenders, and criticized Reform Party Rep. Lee Jun-seok, saying, "Someone who pulled the pin on a hand grenade from inside for his own political aims should at least raise a hand and acknowledge it." Han is also known to have a poor relationship with Rep. Lee.
With next year's People Power Party convention and the 2028 general election ahead, the competition for leadership within the conservative camp is expected to heat up further. Unification discussions will proceed, it appears, entangled with each contender's electoral calculations.
