By Park Bong-gwon, Chung Wook, Lim Sung-hyun

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who led his country to prosperity based on his “Third Way” pragmatism, a position that tries to reconcile right-wing and left-wing politics, has received renewed attention from the world.

He came to blame the Labor Party as “hard left” Jeremy Corbyn appears to be on course to lead the party, which lost in May’s general election.

The Third Way, which advocates a varying combination of right-wing economic and left-wing social policies, is in the spotlight as well.

The former Prime Minister, who will deliver a keynote speech at the World Knowledge Forum this year, will bring a key message to not only the UK but also South Korea, where an anachronistic ideological rift between right and left is still dominating politics.

The Korean government and the ruling party in pursuit of reform in the four areas of the public sector, labor, education and finance fail to maintain a momentum for their reform efforts due to the lack of strong leadership. The opposition party buried in ideology opposes for the sake of opposition without appropriate alternatives. This is why eyes are on the message that Tony Blair will deliver to Korea. He successfully reformed the Labor Party and cooperated with the Conservative Party.

Mr Blair’s bipartisan leadership will serve as a lighthouse throughout the journey in seeking for a new paradigm “The Zeitgeist” that the current generation desperately needs in the midst of uncertainty, unrest, and complexity. With challenges looming over the EU foundation, including Grexit and Brexit, the former UK Prime Minister will provide insight on the future of the EU and euro zone.

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