Jung Chung-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, faced senior lawmakers over the issue of a merger with the Rebuilding Korea Party. Senior lawmakers noted that the merger with the Rebuilding Korea Party is sucking in every issue and asked for a swift decision. The Democratic Party plans to hold a caucus on the 10th to discuss the merger.
On the afternoon of the 6th at the National Assembly, Leader Jung held a meeting with three-term lawmakers to hear opinions related to the merger. Earlier in the day, Jung had a luncheon with about 10 senior lawmakers who are in their fourth term or more. Jung now has only a meeting with second-term lawmakers on the 10th left.
Senior lawmakers in the Democratic Party expressed concern about the escalating internal conflict after Jung's merger proposal. In particular, as an internal document related to the merger was revealed through media reports that day, they mainly conveyed that aligning internal opinions should come first.
Rep. So Byung-hoon of the Democratic Party, who serves as head of the three-term lawmakers' group, said in opening remarks, "A merger proposal is something a party leader can certainly pursue, and I think it is right to point out procedural issues regarding it," while adding, "It's as if we are falling into a black hole, with everything getting sucked into talk of the merger."
He continued, "It would be good if the party leader and supreme council members would take responsibility and resolve what they started. If this debate continues further, it will never help our party," adding, "If possible, we hope you will ease the worries of many citizens and party members quickly."
Despite concerns from senior members, the leadership's infighting appears likely to continue for a while. Supreme council members Lee Un-ju, Kang Deuk-gu and Hwang Myung-seon, who have publicly opposed the merger, even held a joint press conference over the merger-related document released that day.
Supreme Council member Lee Un-ju said, "How powerful could a working-level official be to draft 'allocation of appointed supreme council seats' without even reporting it?" adding, "At the very least, someone consulted on it, and based on that, wrote this content." Supreme Council member Kang Deuk-gu raised his voice, saying, "I even hear talk that they agreed to give one metropolitan mayor or governor to the Rebuilding Korea Party."
The Democratic Party will hold a caucus on the 10th, bringing all lawmakers together to discuss a merger with the Rebuilding Korea Party. However, Leader Jung is sticking to a full party vote. In the meeting with three-term lawmakers, Jung also said, "On the merger issue, we must follow procedures such as a full party debate and vote."