Jeong Cheongrae: "From now on I will do only what helps the local elections... We cannot waste our strength on merger controversies"

First Supreme Council Meeting After Halting Merger Talks
"Total Unity Based on Our Great Common Ground" Emphasized
Calls for Unity, Citing Kim Daejung and Roh Moohyun

Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 11th, regarding the suspension of merger talks with the Cho Kuk Innovation Party amid internal backlash, "From the leadership down, we will become more united and set an exemplary standard."

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that day, Jeong mentioned former Presidents Kim Daejung and Roh Moohyun, who had emphasized persuasion and unity, and said, "We will achieve total unity for victory in the local elections, based on our 'great common ground' that goes beyond the small differences among us." He added, "We crossed the line of the December 3 Martial Law, and we waited in anxious unity for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment by the National Assembly and his removal ruling by the Constitutional Court," and continued, "Let us think only of the success of the government that was launched after immense hardship, and focus solely on doing what will help us win the upcoming local elections."

Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party, is speaking at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 11th. 2026.2.11 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

He went on to say, "We can no longer waste our strength on controversies over a merger," adding, "We will turn this misfortune into a blessing and go all-in for victory in the local elections." Jeong stated, "The timetable to complete all nominations by April 20 will proceed without the slightest deviation," and added, "There will be no unfair cutoffs, we will guarantee the participation of dues-paying party members in the nomination process as promised, and we will nominate the most competitive candidates."

Jeong had abruptly proposed a merger with the Innovation Party on the 22nd of last month. However, as internal backlash grew over the proposal, which had been made without prior in-party discussions, he ultimately declared the suspension of the merger the previous day after a general meeting of lawmakers and a Supreme Council meeting. During this process, there were intense confrontations over the merger issue not only within the Democratic Party but even within the party leadership.