Lee Ju-young, chair of the policy committee for the Reform Party, criticized the emerging rumors of a new party formation with former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo on the conservative side on the 12th, calling it "a shake-up of the Reform Party." Former Mayor Hong, who is currently staying in Hawaii, hinted at his return to Korea.

On December 12, Reform Party Policy Chair Lee Ju-young refuted the rumors of a new party formation by Lee Jun-seok and Hong Joon-pyo, calling it a 'shake-up of the Reform Party.' The image features Hong Joon-pyo, former mayor of Daegu and member of the People Power Party, on the left, and Lee Jun-seok, the presidential candidate of the Reform Party, in February 2022. /Courtesy of News1

The chair of the policy committee said in a YTN radio interview earlier that day regarding the speculation of a new party formation with former Mayor Hong, "It is yet another shake-up of the Reform Party."

He noted, "I experienced the same during the unification in the last presidential election. I feel that there is still no recognition of the distinct identity of the new party and candidate Lee Jun-seok."

The chair of the policy committee stated, "How much do we respect the challenges and self-reliance of the next generation? I wonder if the repeated attempts to weaken this are occurring. I believe that the past Korea and the present Korea should not be this way."

Earlier, Assemblyman Lee Jun-seok dismissed the rumors of a new party formation with former Mayor Hong on his Facebook the day before, stating, "While political commentators can hypothesize various things, they are totally unfounded and puzzling. I have never considered forming a new party with Chairman Hong Joon-pyo."

The speculation of a new party formation with Hong Joon-pyo emerged as he directed sharp messages toward the People Power Party after the last presidential election.

Former Mayor Hong criticized on Facebook on the 4th, the day after the election, saying, "The last struggle through Kim Moon-soo has failed, and neither Lee Jun-seok nor I are to blame. You have turned into a self-serving interest group filled with personal desires and have been turned away by the public." On the 8th, he added, "The pseudo-conservative party, which is one pillar of the Yeouido bipartisan system, must now be dismantled, and new forces prioritizing the national interest must come together to shape the future of Korea in opposition to the Democratic Party's autocratic regime."

After suffering a setback in the recent People Power Party presidential primaries, former Mayor Hong, who left for Hawaii, is expected to return to Korea soon. He shared a photo with his wife on Facebook that day, stating, "I will bury my public indignation in the Pacific Ocean and return lightly."