The rival parties, which had been in a hard-line standoff over a special counsel probe into the Unification Church and candidate nomination bribes, entered a temporary truce this week. The Democratic Party of Korea began preparations for the funeral of the late Lee Hae-chan, senior vice chair of The Peaceful Unification Advisory Council (PUAC). The People Power Party is waiting for leader Jang Dong-hyeok to recover and return after ending a hunger strike.
However, because the parties still remain far apart over the Unification Church and nomination bribe special counsel, another standoff is expected to begin in the latter half of this week or early next week. The Democratic Party plans a merger with the Rebuilding Korea Party, and the People Power Party still faces internal sparks such as the possible expulsion of former leader Han Dong-hoon.
◇Democrats: "Lee Hae-chan funeral from the 27th to the 31st," PPP: "Focus on Jang Dong-hyeok's recovery treatment"
The Democratic Party will designate the funeral period for the senior vice chair as a period of mourning and minimize party affairs. The funeral is expected to be held as a five-day social funeral from the 27th to the 31st. Leader Jung Chung-rae will serve as chief mourner at the memorial altar. The party leadership will receive the procession carrying the deceased when it arrives at Incheon Airport on the morning of the 27th.
Park Soo-hyun, the Democratic Party's chief spokesperson, told reporters after the supreme council meeting on the morning of the 26th, "Leader Jung designated this week as a period of mourning and remembrance, asked that we focus solemnly on mourning and pray for the deceased's repose," and "during the mourning period, he ordered only the minimum handling of party affairs," he said.
The People Power Party is waiting for leader Jang Dong-hyeok to recover. Jang held an eight-day hunger strike from the 15th to the 22nd in the National Assembly Rotunda, demanding a "dual special counsel" to investigate allegations related to the Unification Church and nomination donations. Although the strike was halted at the request of former President Park Geun-hye, who visited the National Assembly, Jang is said to be suffering from cardiopulmonary dysfunction as an aftereffect.
Park Sung-hoon, the People Power Party's chief spokesperson, said on the 26th, "It seems there was cardiopulmonary dysfunction, and he is continuing to focus on recovery treatment," adding, "The leader is strongly willing to return to party duties, but those around him are dissuading him, and we will announce a normal return date for party duties after considering the medical team's recommendations."
But the detonators that could trigger conflict between the Democratic Party and the People Power Party still remain. The Democratic Party aims to pass some 175 livelihood bills, but the People Power Party may not cooperate. If leader Jang Dong-hyeok returns, the PPP may again demand the dual special counsel.
◇Rebuilding Korea Party merger, Han Dong-hoon's expulsion… internal embers persist
Both the Democratic Party and the People Power Party still have internal sparks of conflict. In the Democratic Party, the merger debate with the Rebuilding Korea Party is expected to flare up again. After leader Jung Chung-rae's one-way merger announcement, opposition has grown within the party among both supreme council members and first-term lawmakers. The conflict has calmed for now due to the funeral of senior vice chair Lee Hae-chan, but it is likely to reignite as soon as the funeral schedule ends.
With the principle of keeping the Democratic Party's name, talk of an absorption-type merger has surfaced, putting the Democratic Party and the Rebuilding Korea Party on a collision course. After Democratic Party Secretary-General Cho Seung-rae said, "Within the larger living organism of the Democratic Party, the Rebuilding Korea Party's DNA will mix well," Rebuilding Korea Party Spokesperson Park Byeong-eon responded that it was a "displeasing remark," a notable exchange.
In the People Power Party, the "expulsion of former leader Han Dong-hoon" is resurfacing. There is speculation that a decision to expel him could be made at the supreme council meeting on the 29th, when leader Jang is to return to party duties. Even at the supreme council meeting held that day without Jang, there were opinions that the rally by Han's supporters on the 24th in Yeouido, Seoul, was "radical" and that "appropriate measures are needed," according to accounts.