Ruling Party Gongchimo to Remain Intact Despite 'Factional Gathering' Concerns... "Until the Indictment Is Dismissed"

"Minimizing independent moves and maximizing cooperation with the party's special committee"
"Playing a role so that momentum does not fade even during the local election season"

The parliamentary group "Parliamentarians' Group for Dismissing the Prosecution and Promoting a State Investigation into President Lee Jaemyung's Case" (hereinafter "Gongchimo"), which had faced criticism as a factional gathering, announced on Feb. 26 that it will continue its activities separately from the party's official bodies. However, they added, "We will minimize Gongchimo's independent moves, actively cooperate with the party's special committee and the special committee on the state investigation, and focus on joint responses."

Gongchimo stated this in a position paper released the same day, saying, "The parliamentary group will be maintained until the indictment is dismissed, which is the ultimate goal we declared at the time of our launch."

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Hwang Gwangmo reports: Park Seongjun of the Democratic Party of Korea, serving as standing representative, is speaking at the launch press conference of a group of lawmakers formed to push for dismissal of the indictment and to pursue a parliamentary investigation into President Lee Jaemyung's case at the National Assembly press room on Feb. 12, 2026. hkmpooh@yna.co.kr (END)

Although there had been calls inside and outside the party to disband the group, on the grounds that an official party body has been launched and that it is suspected of being a factional gathering, the group has decided to continue its activities.

Previously, the Democratic Party of Korea resolved to establish the "Committee for Promoting a Parliamentary Investigation to Uncover the Truth Behind the Yoon Suk Yeol Government's Fabricated Indictment and to Dismiss the Prosecution" (hereinafter "Promotion Committee"), chaired by Floor Leader Han Byungdo. As perceptions increasingly framed Gongchimo as a source of factional conflict between the pro-Lee Jaemyung camp and the pro-Leong Cheongrae camp, the move was intended to expand and reorganize it into an official party body.

However, on this day, Gongchimo's standing representative, co-representatives, and steering committee members decided to continue their activities through their own meeting and a separate meeting with Floor Leader Han.

Lee Geontae, the secretary of Gongchimo, told reporters, "The ultimate goal of the group is the dismissal of the indictment in President Lee Jaemyung's case," adding, "We will maintain the group until that goal is achieved." He also said, "As this is a voluntary parliamentary group, we respect the intention of individual lawmakers to withdraw."

Co-representative Kim Seungwon said, "After April, it will be the local election season. At that point, the activities of the party's special committee could become more passive, so we will play a role in ensuring that the momentum related to the dismissal of the indictment does not fade even then."

Regarding some calls to remove President Lee's name from the group's title, they maintained their stance of keeping it, saying, "Under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, they planned and fabricated the investigation to eliminate a political rival and ensnare President Lee. Our group's purpose is to dispel the dark shadows surrounding the president and restore normalcy to the state."

The party's Promotion Committee is expected to be formed soon. Lawmakers belonging to Gongchimo are also expected to join.

There is also a possibility that more lawmakers will withdraw from Gongchimo. The previous day, Gongchimo steering committee member Yoon Geonyeong wrote on social media (SNS), "Now we must unite our hearts so that the new party body to be created can function properly," adding, "If the conclusion is to maintain 'Gongchimo', regrettably, it will be difficult for me to continue together."

Assemblyman Kim Gipyo also withdrew, criticizing, "I cannot understand why they insist on maintaining a separate parliamentary group for indictment dismissal when promoting it as an official party body would be far more effective in achieving that goal," and adding, "If that happens, does it not truly become a factional gathering?" Assembly members Boo Seungchan and Min Hyungbae have also publicly announced their withdrawal.