Dozens of ruling party legislators agree to form new conservative party

By Park Sae-jin Posted : December 21, 2016, 16:02 Updated : December 21, 2016, 16:02

Disgruntled ruling party legislators smile after agreeing to leave and form a new conservative group.[Yonhap News Photo]


South Korea's ruling conservative party was destined for a split Wednesday after dozens of legislators submitted their written consent to quit and form a new party.

The resignations of 35 lawmakers will be sent on December 27 to the Saenuri party which has been reeling from a corruption scandal engulfing President Park Geun-hye.

"We agreed to blaze a trail and set up a truly conservative political platform," lawmaker Hwang Young-cheul said, adding the dissenters would try to establish a new conservative group.

The split has been anticipated since two senior ruling party members left in November, reducing the number of Saenuri seats in the 300-member National Assembly to 128.

Dozens of disgruntled Saenuri legislators turned their back on President Park to support an opposition campaign for her impeachment.

With Park's presidential duty suspended in a parliamentary vote on December 9, the constitutional court has reviewed the legitimacy of Park's impeachment. She has vowed to fight back, insisting she was not involved in any wrongdoing while in office.

Initially, the presidential election was set for December next year, but that should be held within two months after the court approved impeachment.
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