Shin Jang-sik: "Changing Signboard Won't Help Poor Business"... Drawing Line Against Changing Rebuilding Party Name

▲ Shin Jang-sik, Leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party

Shin Jang-sik, leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, has once again drawn a line against calls within the party to change its name, stating, "Changing just the signboard because business is slow is not going to solve the problem."

Appearing on MBC Radio's "Kim Chong-bae's Focus" today (August 26), Leader Shin stated, "We need to comprehensively change our platform, recipes, service, and interior design all while changing the signboard at the same time."

Previously, after being elected as party leader at the Rebuilding Korea Party's national convention on July 25, Shin had also expressed a negative stance on changing the party name, saying, "Customers do not come just because you change the signboard."

Regarding the "Grand Integration Promotion Unit" launched directly under Democratic Party Leader Kim Min-seok, Shin said, "Whether it is solidarity or a merger, we must do it if the public points us in that direction," but added, "Measures to restore trust are needed before that."

He went on to criticize, "Before restoring trust, the Grand Integration Promotion Unit was suddenly created without any communication," adding, "We cannot help but suspect whether this is truly for solidarity and integration, or simply for an offensive tactic regarding solidarity and integration."

As for the "Recruitment and Expansion Subcommittee" established within the Grand Integration Promotion Unit, he pointed out, "Recruitment and expansion are different, and I am worried about just how far they intend to expand," asking, "Are they aiming for a 'catchall coalition' like Japan's Liberal Democratic Party?"

Regarding the "resolution of dual party memberships" proposed by Leader Kim, he called it "a political offensive and an impossible task," adding, "If the Democratic Party gives us the party member roster, we will cross-reference it and let them know."

Regarding the Rebuilding Policy Institute Director Cho Kuk of the Rebuilding Korea Party announcing plans to field candidates in the constituencies of Democratic Party lawmakers Lee Un-joo and Kang Deuk-ku, Shin argued, "Around the time merger theories were raised, Lawmaker Lee smeared the public land ownership concept enshrined in the Constitution as 'socialism.' Lawmaker Kang has shown suspicious behavior by splashing filth on people who talk about reform."

He added, "Providing choices to voters who want clear reform is the duty of a party that pursues clear reform," and "There is a clear demand to offer a clearer choice regarding those who splash filth on the pillars of reform, paint them red, or take an axe to prosecutorial reform."

(Photo: Yonhap News)

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