With the June 3 parliamentary by-election approaching, political attention is growing on unifying candidates in Pyeongtaek-eul, Gyeonggi. In the conservative camp, some say a single candidacy could pick up speed, but the Democratic Party of Korea said unifying with Cho Kuk of the Rebuilding Korea Party would be difficult for now.
On the afternoon of the 28th, at a press briefing held at the National Assembly, Democratic Party Secretary-General Cho Seung-rae said, "I have occasionally met and talked with Lee Hae-min, secretary-general of the Rebuilding Korea Party, and we agreed that, given the current situation in Pyeongtaek-eul, it would be difficult to push for unification."
He added, "Because the Rebuilding Korea Party is demanding our candidate step down, that is not an intention to unify but a demand for resignation," and said, "There could be a variable (a conservative camp unification), but since it has not occurred yet, it is something to judge if and when it happens."
The Rebuilding Korea Party is pressing hard on Democratic Party candidate Kim Yong-nam's "alleged operation of a lending firm under a borrowed name" and is calling for his resignation. The allegation is that Kim ran a lending company under a borrowed name through an agricultural corporation he owns. The Rebuilding Korea Party argues that unification should be with Cho Kuk, not Kim, who is under suspicion.
However, Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae plans to complete the Pyeongtaek-eul race with candidate Kim. Appearing on the YouTube show Maebul Show that afternoon, Jung said, "In Kim's case, he is explaining, refuting, and claiming it is not true," adding, "Since he has received the nomination certificate stamped with the party leader's seal and is registered, he has no choice but to push through himself."
That morning as well, appearing on Kim Ou-joon's YouTube channel, Jung said, "(Unifying in Pyeongtaek-eul) has become somewhat difficult in practical terms," but added, "We must prepare for all possibilities. If that situation arises, we will reconsider."