Third Force Surge Was 'Momentary'... Cho Kuk, Lee Jun-seok Both Step Down
The figureheads of the "third force" that created a surge by breaking into the gap between the two major parties in the 2024 general election have stepped down from their chairman positions in tandem after just over two years.
According to political circles on the 26th, Reform Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok held a press conference at the National Assembly Press Center on that day and resigned from his position as party chairman. With key figures including the Supreme Council members and policy committee chair also stepping down, Cheon Ha-ram, the floor leader, took on the role of acting party chairman.
The defeat in the June 3 local elections was the decisive turning point. The Reform Party fielded numerous candidates for metropolitan and municipal government heads and local assembly seats but secured only one local council seat. There was also the misfortune of Jeong Yi-han, a candidate for Busan mayor, being indicted on suspicion of orchestrating his own assault.
Chairman Lee pursued party self-strengthening and renewal after the local elections but stepped down from his position after about three months, saying "I did not receive sufficient support from within the party."
Earlier, Cho Kuk, former chairman who founded the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, also stepped down following the defeat in the June local elections. Former Chairman Cho ran directly in a special National Assembly election in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province held concurrently with the local elections but came in third and lost.
The departure of the two stands in contrast to two years ago during the general election.
In the April 2024 22nd general election, the Cho Kuk Innovation Party obtained 12 proportional representation seats and rose to the third party in the National Assembly, while the Reform Party secured 3 seats—Chairman Lee's win in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, plus 2 proportional representation seats.
Though their political orientations differed, both parties shared the common point of leading the charge with strong personal brands of Cho Kuk and Lee Jun-seok, drawing in voters disillusioned with existing two-party politics.
However, they failed to sustain the general election surge in local elections, which required nationwide organizations and competitive candidates. Ultimately, both founding figures who led the new party surge in the general election stepped down from their party chairman positions following the local elections.
Meanwhile, the politicization of forces within and outside major parties is taking a different shape.
Former Democratic Party Chairman Jung Chung-rae lost to Chairman Kim Min-seok in the National Convention on the 17th but garnered 45.92% of votes. Personnel classified as Jung Chung-rae loyalists, including Sung Yi-yoon, Han Min-soo, and Choi Min-hee, were also elected to the Supreme Council, maintaining considerable influence within the party.
Han Dong-hoon, an independent lawmaker who left the People Power Party, is also expanding his political base without establishing a separate new party. He maintains contact points with the existing political establishment, such as sequentially joining National Assembly research groups with many incumbent People Power Party lawmakers participating, continuing his independent path.
Former Chairman Jung Chung-rae remains in the party while Lawmaker Han is an independent, making their situations different from former Chairmen Cho Kuk and Lee Jun-seok. However, maintaining political influence and forces without creating a new party provides a comparative case for assessing the utility of establishing an independent party.
Third parties of the past, such as the People's Party, also temporarily expanded their strength in elections but subsequently faced difficulties maintaining an independent political base long-term amid splits and mergers.
Structural challenges inherent to new parties were also exposed anew. While individual name recognition and clear messages could drive entry into the National Assembly in general elections, sustaining this as a viable political force required backing from regional organizations, candidate pools, and a stable support base.
A political circle insider said, "In the general election, disappointment with the two major parties and expectations for new politics translated into a surge for new parties, but this failed to connect to stable party support," adding "Considering that independent political forces can be maintained both within and outside existing parties, we must soberly examine how sustainable the choice of founding a new party is for politicization."
전시언 기자 yourside@news-s.kr