A lawmaker and a mayor of the minor conservative Advancement and Unification Party said Wednesday they will soon defect to the ruling Saenuri Party, prompting speculation about their impact ahead of December’s presidential election.

The defections by Rep. Lee Myoung-soo and Sejong City Mayor Yu Han-sik are expected to reduce the AUP’s seats in the National Assembly to four and weaken the party’s stronghold in the central Chungcheong provinces.

Lee is a two-term lawmaker in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, about 95 kilometers south of Seoul, while Sejong located in the same province will be the new administrative home of South Korean government ministries and the Prime Minister’s Office.

“I agreed with the party’s leadership to discuss the issue (later) today,” Lee told reporters.

“I haven’t had previous contacts with Saenuri’s leadership regarding my plan to join the party.” Yu told Yonhap News Agency in a phone call that he plans to hold a news conference later in the day to announce his defection.

“(Lee) felt that the party’s (small) number of seats was limiting his ability to propose motions,” an aide to the lawmaker told Yonhap earlier, asking that he not be identified. “He believes the Saenuri Party suits him best and will soon defect (from the AUP) to join the party.”

The aide indicated that others may follow suit but did not elaborate.

The 300-member National Assembly currently also includes 148 lawmakers of the Saenuri Party, 128 of the main opposition Democratic United Party, 13 of the minor opposition Unified Progressive Party and six independents. 

(Yonhap News)