A pro-Lee Jae-myung supreme council member of the Democratic Party of Korea said it was completely untrue that there had been any rapport with President Lee Jae-myung regarding party leader Jung Chung-rae's proposal to merge with the Rebuilding Korea Party. The member added that it was not appropriate to draw the president into party affairs and urged Jung to apologize and disclose the full facts.
Democratic Party supreme council members Lee Un-ju, Kang Deuk-gu and Hwang Myung-seon held a press conference at the National Assembly's briefing room on the afternoon of the 23rd, saying, "Jung said the merger falls in the 'realm of a political decision,' but there was no supreme council discussion or any collection of party members' opinions leading up to that decision," and "We demand an official apology from the party leader."
They said Democratic Party lawmakers were most concerned that Jung's side was invoking President Lee in relation to the merger issue with the Rebuilding Korea Party. As the question of whether there had been prior rapport with the president has emerged as a key issue, they aimed at claims by some party leaders that "there must have been rapport."
After the press conference, supreme council member Hwang told reporters, "The one person, one vote system that Jung is pushing and the claim that this is being pursued through rapport and discussions with the president are completely untrue," adding, "It is highly inappropriate for the party leader to make remarks that could be misunderstood, or for people around the leader to say such things."
Supreme council member Lee also said, "It is different to hold the spirit of unity as a general principle and to make a unilateral announcement through a press conference," adding, "Dragging in a long-held general principle and packaging it as if there had been concrete consultations is a dangerous attempt regarding the presidential office."
Pro-Lee supreme council members demanded that Jung apologize for failing to follow democratic procedures and called on him to disclose how the merger proposal came about.
Supreme council member Kang said, "It is said to be for winning the local elections, but would a merger change the electoral landscape in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Busan and South Gyeongsang?" adding, "Since party leader Cho Kuk returned to politics, the Democratic Party and the Rebuilding Korea Party have had differences on pending issues. Including these, the first principle is that Jung should explain to party members and lawmakers why a merger is necessary and seek their consent."
Meeting reporters in Jincheon, North Chungcheong, that day, party leader Jung addressed internal backlash over the merger, saying, "I have proposed a merger, and going forward all party members will debate and also vote," adding, "As party leader, I cut the first tape in the form of a proposal, and I hope party members will have extensive discussions going forward."