"What Has Changed Is the Democratic Party"… Jo Jeonghun Discusses Merger with People Power Party

"Final Decision After Internal Discussions"
"No Conditions for Merger, Procedures Expected to Complete Within About a Month Once Decided"

Assemblyman Jo Jeonghun of the Transition Era party revealed on the 19th that he had received a proposal to merge with the People Power Party. Jo is expected to proceed with the merger process after internal discussions within his party. Seeming to be conscious of the fact that he became a member of the National Assembly through the satellite party of the Democratic Party of Korea, he also emphasized, "The one that has changed is the Democratic Party."

On the same day, Jo met with reporters at the National Assembly Members' Office Building and said, "About ten days ago, the top leadership of the People Power Party proposed a merger with the Transition Era party," adding, "They want to create a coalition that encompasses conservatives and centrists, and they proposed that Transition Era join to play the role of a centrist pragmatic party."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, Jo also confirmed that the merger is not a concluded matter but is still under internal discussion. He said, "I was scheduled to meet with regional committee heads and key senior party officials this evening," and added, "I planned to hold a press conference afterward. The plan was to make a final decision and announce it."

Previously, Jo entered the National Assembly as a proportional representative of the Democratic Party of Korea’s satellite party, the Together Citizens' Party, in the 21st general election, but after undergoing expulsion procedures, he returned to the Transition Era party. Regarding this, when asked by reporters whether he had consulted with the Democratic Party about discussions on merging with the People Power Party, he criticized, saying, "I think the one who has changed is not Jo Jeonghun but the Democratic Party," and added, "The Democratic Party I saw in the National Assembly was very different from the Democratic Party I knew. It seems like a party stuck in 1987."

Regarding the method of merger, Jo, who had used expressions such as joining the party, said, "Merger is the correct term," and added, "If I join the party, there will be various legal issues such as losing my seat as a member of the National Assembly." When asked about the conditions for the merger, he replied, "I did not demand anything." Regarding the timing of the merger, he said, "We will declare the merger as soon as a conclusion is reached and go through legal procedures," adding, "It will be roughly within about a month, if it happens."