Park Ji-won: "Fully Support the Merger Proposal... Let Us All Become 'Pro-Blue House'"

Chung Cheongrae Proposes Surprise Merger to Cho Kuk Innovation Party
Park Ji-won Voices Support: "If the Goal Is the Same, We Should Walk Together"
Democratic Party Lawmakers Criticize Leader's "Surprise Move"

As Chung Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, made a surprise proposal for a full merger with the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, Park Ji-won, a fellow party member, expressed his support, stating, "Let us all become pro-Blue House." On the 22nd, Park wrote on his social media, "I actively welcome and support Leader Chung's proposal for a merger with the Cho Kuk Innovation Party," adding, "I sincerely hope for a positive response from Leader Cho."

Park Ji-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving an interview with The Asia Business Daily at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Park explained, "When Leader Cho was suffering in detention, I conveyed a proposal for integration through a member of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party and received a positive response." Regarding Leader Cho's independent course of action after his release, Park commented, "We must not lose the greater good for the sake of small gains." He further explained that he has consistently delivered messages urging a merger, saying, "If you want to catch a tiger, you must enter the tiger's den." He continued, "If the goal is the same, we should walk together. Unity makes us stronger and brings benefits, while division leads to ruin. Leader Chung, you did well. Leader Cho, please respond."

On the 22nd, Leader Chung held an emergency press conference at the National Assembly, saying, "When the Innovation Party was founded, I spoke of 'together but separate.' We ran separately in the 22nd general election and together in the 21st presidential election. We have jointly opposed the Yoon Suk-yeol administration and overcame the 12·3 Martial Law Rebellion together." He continued, "We also ran together in the presidential election to launch the Lee Jaemyung administration. I hope we can also run together in the upcoming 6·3 local elections," emphasizing, "The success of the Lee Jaemyung administration and victory in the local elections are the spirit of the times, and the Democratic Party and the Innovation Party share this same spirit."

Last November, Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party (right), visited Chung Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, at the National Assembly. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

In response, Leader Cho said, "I fully agree with the goal of ensuring the success of the Lee Jaemyung administration and regaining power," but added, "The Innovation Party will discuss and decide based on the will and direction of the people, and we will report the outcome to the public as soon as it is determined."

However, within the Democratic Party, there was backlash, with some calling Chung's remarks a unilateral move. Assemblyman Jang Cheolmin wrote on social media, "I oppose the one-sided push for a merger without consulting party members. Even the Supreme Council members were only informed 20 minutes before the press conference, and lawmakers only learned about the merger push through the news. We cannot decide the party's fate with such a surprise move. If proper communication and procedures are skipped, the unity of democratic forces will become even more difficult," expressing his opposition.

Assemblyman Han Junho also stated, "A merger with the Innovation Party requires sufficient explanation, deliberation, and agreement from party members, because our Democratic Party is a party that upholds the sovereignty of its members." Assemblyman Kim Yongmin said, "It is wrong to push ahead with a major decision like a merger, which determines the fate of the party, without prior discussion or consensus. This is not something the party leader should decide alone."