After the Dinner with the Floor Leaders of the Six Parties... The 'Anti-Yoon Alliance' Strengthens

Opposition on Alert to Ruling Party Defections over Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Bill
Democratic Party "Comprehensive Alliance Needed... No Concrete Decision Yet"

After a dinner meeting of floor leaders from six opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, signs indicate that the 'Anti-Yoon (Anti-Yoon Seok-yeol) coalition' will be further strengthened. The Democratic Party, the Party for National Innovation, the Progressive Party, the Basic Income Party, and the Social Democratic Party will jointly participate in an outdoor rally next week.

Representatives from the six opposition parties including the Democratic Party of Korea and civil society stakeholders held a press conference on July 10 in front of the main stairs of the National Assembly building, condemning the rejection of the Special Prosecutor Act for Chae Sang-byeong and demanding the acceptance of livelihood reform legislation. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

On the 8th, the Democratic Party announced in a press briefing that five opposition parties, excluding the Reform Party, will hold a joint outdoor rally on the 16th. This was announced following the dinner of the six opposition floor leaders the previous day. Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party; Hwang Un-ha of the Party for National Innovation; Cheon Ha-ram of the Reform Party; Yoon Jong-oh of the Progressive Party; Yong Hye-in of the Basic Income Party; and Han Chang-min, representative and floor leader of the Social Democratic Party, dined together on the afternoon of the 7th. At this meeting, the attendees shared the recognition that the current political situation is 'grave' and explored how the opposition parties could unite moving forward. This is a continuation of the decision made at the first dinner of the six opposition parties in August to "stick together tightly."

Regarding parliamentary matters, a vote on the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act is scheduled for the 14th. If the president vetoes the special prosecutor act, the opposition bloc with 192 seats must secure 8 additional votes to pass the act in a re-vote. Han Chang-min, representative of the Social Democratic Party who attended the dinner, said, "Securing 200 seats in the re-vote procedure by the end of this month is the first starting point," adding, "Passing the special prosecutor act confirms that the end of this administration is in sight, and the political situation will rapidly change thereafter." The Democratic Party has also been closely monitoring defections within the People Power Party while pushing twice for the reapproval of the Kim Geon-hee Special Prosecutor Act.

The floor leaders of six opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, are having a dinner meeting at a restaurant in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of August 13. Photo by Yonhap News

Han said, "Our (Social Democratic Party's) opinion was to take the fastest possible route so that the presidential election can be held before President Yoon's three-year term in May next year, in any way possible." Some members of the Democratic Party and the Party for National Innovation announced the launch of the 'Constitutional Amendment Coalition' at the National Assembly that afternoon, aiming to lead a constitutional amendment to limit President Yoon's term to three years. Although the Constitutional Amendment Coalition is an individual activity unrelated to the leadership's stance, it is a large-scale gathering involving about 20 Democratic Party lawmakers.

No Jong-myeon, floor spokesperson, explained regarding the dinner the previous day, "There was nothing special," and added, "It was a meeting to confirm the need for a comprehensive coalition and to respect each party's position."