In the April 2024 general election in Korea, emerging political factions signaled a potential realignment of the country's traditional political landscape. The Rebuilding Korea Party (RKP), led by former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, secured 24 percent of votes for proportional representation seats, while the Reform Party, a center-right coalition led by former People Power Party (PPP) leader Lee Jun-seok, also managed to garner considerable attention, primarily due to Lee's first-ever electoral victory and its strategy to capitalize on youth voters.

The rally of these “third force” political movements was met with both anticipation and skepticism. While questions persisted about whether the RKP, a splinter group from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), embodied the traditional third force concept, typically characterized by an ideologically centrist approach that transcends partisan divides, many voters hoped that these new political entities could act as potential catalysts for breaking the nation's polarized political system.

Simultaneously, it was also clear from the outset that the success of these emerging parties could not be sustained without addressing several challenges, including resolving legal risks associated with leadership, reducing overreliance on individual personalities and forming a collective caucus (also referred to as a negotiation group) to project their influence. Unfortunately, none of these strategic imperatives have been realized, and the prospects for these third-party alternatives have become........

© The Korea Times