The Rebuilding Korea Party expressed regret over Democratic Party of Korea Secretary-General Cho Seung-rae's remark that "the Rebuilding Korea Party DNA will mix well in the Democratic Party of Korea." It said the comment from the Democratic Party of Korea could be misunderstood as advocating an "absorption merger" even before full-fledged talks on a merger between the two parties have begun.
Seo Wang-jin, floor leader of the Rebuilding Korea Party, said at the supreme council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 26th, "Yesterday (on the 25th), Secretary-General Cho said at a press briefing that within the large living organism called the Democratic Party, the Rebuilding Korea Party's DNA will also mix well," adding, "Regardless of Secretary-General Cho's true intent, this remark is being interpreted along with the opinion to keep the party name as advocating an absorption merger."
He continued, "We express strong regret that such a misunderstanding has formed even before full-fledged integration talks have begun," and added, "The Democratic Party's 70-year history and the diverse values embedded within it are weighty, but integration should not be a predictable attempt to bulk up; it should be a value coalition that offers new hope."
The remark by Secretary-General Cho that the Rebuilding Korea Party is criticizing came at a press briefing held the previous day. Cho said, "Within the large living organism called the Democratic Party, the Rebuilding Korea Party DNA will also be well mixed," and added, "Wouldn't we, of course, think that the Democratic Party of Korea's party name should be maintained."
Seo, the floor leader, also said, "Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae's merger proposal was very sudden, so both parties are now standing at the starting line of discussions," adding, "In these discussions, the Rebuilding Korea Party has set as a principle to be upheld that integration must be a process of a value coalition that preserves and expands the party's political DNA, and we are proceeding with the discussion in an orderly manner centered on the party leader."
He added, "We will take the lead, sledgehammer in hand, to break the old framework of politics that distorts the popular will and to push political reform that fully reflects the will of the sovereign," and emphasized, "We will steadily broaden our course to realize advanced social rights, including the concept of public ownership of land."