'Will accelerate talks with progressive reform parties following cabinet reshuffle'

Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok speaks at a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on Monday. [Yonhap]
Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok speaks at a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly on Monday. [Yonhap]

Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok said Monday that any alliance or merger with the Rebuilding Korea Party would move forward "through a democratic process, confirming the overwhelming will of members from both parties."

Speaking at a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly that day, Kim said he had already declared that "broad-based solidarity with the Rebuilding Korea Party is unconditional." He added that "no one yet knows whether the form will be a full merger or something else," while noting that both sides had confirmed their intentions and that the entire nation was aware there were supporters and opponents within the party.

Kim urged party leadership and lawmakers to refrain from expressing personal opinions and to leave the matter to the body tasked with handling it. He also asked party members to voice their views freely but to engage in rational debate rather than stirring emotions, saying the party would be "very grateful" for such an approach.

Kim referred to the Grand Unification Promotion Committee — launched under lawmaker Park Beom-gye and reporting directly to the party leader — as holding full authority over the first round of discussions on alliance expansion. He said that once the committee's conclusions reach the leadership, the party will propose and follow a democratic process for members to make a decision, adding that he would "say nothing until that process is complete." He also singled out lawmaker Lee Hae-sik, appointed to lead the committee's subgroup on Rebuilding Korea Party cooperation, and called on the Rebuilding Korea Party to "quickly designate a channel through which talks with lawmaker Lee can begin."

Kim said the issue of dual party membership within the Democratic Party was "a very important prerequisite matter," adding that while it was "not a precondition, it will be handled as a parallel task." He asked Supreme Council member Park Seon-won, who heads the party membership management TF, to "prepare and report as soon as possible on how this issue will be handled transparently."

On relations with progressive reform alliance parties — including the Progressive Party, the Social Democratic Party and the Basic Income Party — Kim said the party had held wide-ranging discussions covering electoral, party and political systems, and would continue to pursue what is needed going forward. He said the party would "accelerate efforts more actively, using this cabinet reshuffle as an opportunity."

Kim added that the party would "actively support the newly joining cabinet nominees from the progressive reform alliance to settle in well and effectively advance both their personal political convictions and their policy positions as members of the government." He said the party would also help verify their expertise alongside the public and ensure their positions "harmonize well as the government's stance."


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