The Korea Vision Party (Korean: 국민생각, "National Thought"), more commonly known as the K Party, is a center-rightist political party in South Korea. It was founded on 12 February 2012 by Park Se-il, president of the Hansun Foundation, a conservative think tank.[2] There are concerns that the K Party will split the conservative vote,[3] though Park Se-il met with Saenuri leader Park Geun-hye on 23 February, with Park Geun-hye commenting that "If a party holds the same values and orientation, we are open to partnering".[4] The party aims to field over 200 candidates in the April elections, favoring the selection of women and younger politicians.[5] In an opinion poll conducted on 24–25 February 2012, the K Party received a support level of 1.4%, out-ranking the more established New Progressive Party.[6] Analysts have nonetheless raised questions over the ability of the party to secure seats, even if sitting Assembly members do defect.[7]
The party has attempted to court defecting members of the larger Saenuri Party in the run-up to the 2012 Assembly elections,[7] with a particular focus on loyalists of Lee Myung-bak who have been alienated by the rise of Park Geun-hye.[8] Commentators have speculated that pro-Lee lawmakers such as Lee Jae-oh may defect to the K Party en masse,[9] and on March 9, 2012, the former Saenuri Party politician Jeon Yeo-ok defected to the K Party and became its first lawmaker.[10]