Minjoo to Absorb 'Satellite Parties'... Completion Before Election of Floor Leader

Democratic Party-Democratic Union to Merge by Next Month 3
Yong Hye-in and Others Likely to Return to National Assembly After Expulsion

The Democratic Party of Korea has resolved to merge with its proportional representation satellite party, the Democratic Union. They plan to complete the related procedures by May 3, when the election for the new floor leader will be held.

Han Minsu, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, told reporters after the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 22nd, "At the closed Supreme Council meeting, the agenda for the merger resolution between the Democratic Union and the Democratic Party, as well as the appointment of the party affairs committee for the merger, were all processed and approved simultaneously." The merger procedure will proceed through the party affairs committee on the 24th, followed by a two-day online vote by party members starting on the 28th. Han explained, "Once these procedures are completed, there will be a Central Committee meeting on the 30th, and if approved there, a merger meeting is scheduled for May 2."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is shaking hands with Yoon Young-duk and Baek Seung-ah, co-representatives of the Democratic United Alliance, at the joint central election committee meeting and disbandment ceremony of the Democratic Party and Democratic United Alliance held at the central party office in Yeouido, Seoul on the 11th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The Democratic Union side also unanimously approved the merger issue. Yoon Youngdeok, co-representative of the Democratic Union, told reporters after the closed Supreme Council meeting that morning, "The Democratic Union unanimously resolved to merge with the Democratic Party," adding, "We decided to organize and establish the Democratic Party Supreme Council as the merger committee." He further stated, "We intend to complete the subsequent procedures and schedule as much as possible before the (Democratic Party) floor leader election." This is to grant voting rights in the floor leader election to those elected under the Democratic Union.

Jeong Hyekyung and Jeon Jongdeok, elected members from the Progressive Party, Yong Hyein from the New Progressive Alliance (Basic Income Party), and Han Changmin from the Social Democratic Party, who had joined the Democratic Union, will return to their original parties in the National Assembly. Since these elected members were elected through proportional representation, they will lose their seats if they leave their parties. Therefore, they are expected to follow the formal procedure of expulsion and then return to their respective parties.

Kim Yoon and Seo Mihwa, who successfully entered the National Assembly as civil society nominees, are reportedly considering their future course. Although some speculated they might join the Party for National Innovation, the elected members have firmly denied this.