(LEAD) Independent Park Jie-won joins minor opposition party

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SEOUL, March 2 (Yonhap) -- Veteran independent lawmaker Park Jie-won joined the minor opposition People's Party Wednesday and pledged to win a sweeping victory in the April general elections.

Park, formerly affiliated with the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea, made the announcement after holding a meeting with Ahn Cheol-soo, co-chairman of the People's Party.

"We have agreed without any strings attached to join forces for a change in administration in 2017," Park told reporters at the National Assembly.

The three-term lawmaker, who also served as a floor leader of the Minjoo Party's predecessor, left the party last month following Ahn's departure amid an in-house power struggle.

Last month, the Supreme Court overturned a ruling that convicted Park of receiving 30 million won (US$24,400) in kickbacks from a former banker, citing lack of credibility in testimonies.

Kwon Roh-kap, a close aide to the late former President Kim Dae-jung and a former advisor to the Minjoo Party's predecessor, also joined the People's Party.

khj@yna.co.kr
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