Cho Kuk Innovation Party: "Likely to Have Repercussions...Watching Closely"
People Power Party: "Interference in Party Affairs Is Grounds for Impeachment"
Kang Deukgu, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who had opposed the merger, became embroiled in a controversy over presidential interference in party affairs after he posted and then deleted a message on social media stating that "it is the President's wish that the parties merge after the local elections and that the party convention be held as a unified convention."
Claiming that he had met with Hong Ikpyo, Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs, on the 10th, Kang wrote, "Given the current situation, unification before the local elections would be difficult, but I was informed that if the Democratic Party announces its position on the merger tomorrow, the President would like to see an immediately prepared entrusted body to handle the merger."
In the same post, Kang continued, "Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheongrae proposed that the secretaries-general of the two parties take charge of a discussion body to promote unification, and that a working-level body linked to this discussion body be formed together," adding, "If this is announced this week, the presidential office is said to be planning events linked to the unification as early as next week."
He went on to write comments seemingly directed at Prime Minister Kim Minseok, saying, "It seems there is a discrepancy with what the Prime Minister said. I do think it is necessary to confirm the President's exact position, but this is what Senior Secretary Hong conveyed." This has been interpreted as implying a difference of opinion between Prime Minister Kim, who opposes the merger, and the Blue House.
Kang is reported to have deleted the post almost immediately, but as captured images spread, the controversy has rapidly escalated.
Coincidentally, the Preparatory Committee for Promotion of Alliance and Unification that leader Jeong proposed that day to the Cho Kuk Innovation Party is similar in content to the message conveyed by Kang.
Regarding this, Kang met with reporters at the National Assembly that day and said, "It was posted before the facts had been fully verified, so I ordered it taken down right away. I apologize for causing concern." However, when asked whether he had received instructions from Prime Minister Kim to oppose the merger, he denied it, saying, "No."
On this issue, Park Byeongeon, spokesperson for the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, said, "It does seem like a bit of a happening, but we have not even been able to confirm whether Kang wrote it himself. The post contained content that could have quite a significant impact," adding, "Our party is watching the situation very closely, and the author needs to provide an explanation."
The opposition bloc immediately went on the offensive, claiming that "President Lee Jaemyung's alleged interference in party affairs has been made public from within the Democratic Party itself." Park Sunghoon, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, said in a commentary that day, "Interference in party affairs is grounds for impeachment that the Democratic Party has so loudly demanded," and added, "Given that even the specific details of the conversation with Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Ikpyo have been mentioned, they cannot now pretend it never happened."
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