Kim Han-gil to Join Ahn Cheol-soo's New Party from the Start

Maverick ex-tycoon Ahn Cheol-soo had lunch with leading lawmaker Kim Han-gil on Thursday after both quit the main opposition party, formerly the New Politics Alliance for Democracy.

Kim is now expected to become a founding member of a new party Ahn is setting up with the aim of creating a new politics free of the vested regional privilege and corruption of the two big parties.

Kim's quasi-declaration of loyalty to Ahn gives a boost to plans for a new party, since Kim is a seasoned politician with a wealth of contacts.