Independent lawmaker Rep. Yoo Seung-min on Tuesday urged political groups to embrace the idea of a “republic state,” a move seen to emphasize his centrist agenda amid speculation over whether he would return to the conservative Saenuri Party.

The four-term lawmaker and former whip defected from the ruling party in April after clashing with President Park Geun-hye and her factional Saenuri members. After winning the general election as an independent, Yoo asked to return to the party, but the request has been denied.

In a lecture for students of Sungkyunkwan University, the former economics professor said that building a true sense of the ”republic state“ is the key to address worsening economic and social disparity in South Korea.

The session was the first public event attended by Yoo since the election, raising hubbub that he may be stepping up his political game backed by steady popularity.

“We need political forces that can realize the value of the republic state,” said Yoo. “Whether it would be conservatives or liberals, the value of (a) republic is the crucial theme for our times,” he said.

The remarks were in line with the centrist lawmaker’s political stance, as he casts himself as a moderate conservative, often echoing the liberal party’s agenda such as state-led welfare policy.

Yoo had first underlined “republic state” during his farewell speech as a floor leader. Noting that the idea was enshrined in the South Korea’s Constitution declaring South Korea as a “democratic republic,” Yoo said he wanted to protect the value throughout his tenure.

Yoo urged the conservatives to transform themselves into a moderate group that can address social injustice. “About 30 percent of Koreans regard themselves as conservatives. If they can change, Korea will change,” he said.

Following the meeting, the 58-year-old politician reiterated his pledge to return to the Saenuri Party, denying speculation that he would join other centrist political groups such as the one led by former National Speaker Chung Ui-hwa.

Chung had met with Yoo in a closed door meeting two weeks ago before the speaker ended his term, fueling speculation that the two centralists would create a new political group ahead of the presidential election scheduled to take place in Dec. 2017.

One of the former speaker’s top aide Park Hyung-joon, the former secretary-general of the National Assembly, said in an interview that Yoo could “play a big role” in the nation’s politics and urged him to join the move.

By Yeo Jun-suk (jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)