The Democratic Party of Korea is watching whether Yoo Ui-dong of the People Power Party and Hwang Kyo-ahn of the Freedom and Innovation party will merge their candidacies in the five-way by-election for lawmaker in Pyeongtaek B, Gyeonggi Province. It said, however, that there are no party-level discussions under way for a progressive camp merger.
On the morning of the 20th, at a press briefing held at the National Assembly, Cho Seung-rae, the Democratic Party's chief general election director, said, "When we say we are keeping all options open regarding Pyeongtaek B, it means we are watching for changes and possibilities in whether candidate Hwang Kyo-ahn goes all the way."
He added, "There are no additional merger talks with the Rebuilding Korea Party or The Progressive Party at this time," and said, "In most polls, Democratic Party candidate Kim Yong-nam is maintaining the lead, followed by Cho Kuk of the Rebuilding Korea Party and Yoo Ui-dong of the People Power Party. If Hwang suddenly bows out, we don't know how the race will shift."
Regarding some in political circles linking Cho Kuk's victory to a merger between the Democratic Party and the Rebuilding Korea Party, he said, "We have discussed a merger with the Rebuilding Korea Party and agreed to do it after the local elections," but added, "Saying that Cho's victory automatically leads to a merger is a flawed argument."
He continued, "From the Democratic Party's standpoint, if our candidate wins, merger talks can proceed much more smoothly," and said, "Tying the Rebuilding Korea Party's electoral tactics to merger talks is a forced argument."