Democratic Party leader Kim Min-seok said the party will begin discussions both internally and with the Rebuilding Korea Party over a possible merger, while cautioning that "the final outcome — whether it becomes an alliance or a merger — remains uncharted territory."
Kim made the remarks at a meeting of the party's supreme council held at the National Assembly on the 31st, adding, "We have stated the principle that we will form an alliance in any case, and we have confirmed that intention on both sides."
"The entire nation knows there are voices for and against this within the party," Kim said. "So we will handle this through democratic procedures, confirming the overwhelming will of the members of both parties." He urged that "all leadership figures and lawmakers, including myself, should refrain as much as possible from expressing personal opinions and leave this to the body handling the matter." He added, "It is fine to voice your views freely, but in that process please engage in reasonable debate rather than inflaming each other's emotions."
On the channel for negotiations with the Rebuilding Korea Party, Kim said, "Rep. Park Beom-kye holds full authority over the first round of discussions on alliance and expansion," adding that "within that, Rep. Lee Hae-sik holds full authority over contact and alliance with the Rebuilding Korea Party." He continued, "Once matters are settled in the first round of discussions, the leadership will propose the decision-making process to party members democratically and proceed accordingly."
Kim also made a request to the Rebuilding Korea Party, saying, "We would appreciate it if you could quickly designate a channel for dialogue with Rep. Lee." He added that "the issue of dual party membership within the Democratic Party is also a very important precondition in discussions on the alliance, so we will handle it as a parallel task," and asked that "Supreme Council member Park Sun-won, who is in charge, report soon on how this issue will be handled."
Separately, on the transfer of wartime operational control amid shifting conditions on the Korean Peninsula, Kim said, "There have been many discussions between South Korea and the U.S. recently, and a need has arisen to examine this more closely." He said the party has "decided to reorganize the internal task force on regaining wartime operational control and appointed former Supreme Council member Kim Byung-joo as its head."
"Major changes are taking place in the situation on the Korean Peninsula," Kim said. "Above all, the Democratic Party has consistently maintained that security on the Korean Peninsula must be firm. The South Korea-U.S. alliance must be an alliance that protects security on the Korean Peninsula." He also said, "In the past, it was an era in which keeping the alliance stable resolved every security issue, but now the situation seems to have changed into one where we must look carefully at the U.S. position and view our own security more sensitively."
On the government's mid-sized cabinet reshuffle announced on the 30th, Kim said, "Because these are people who have brought differing political views and ideas, a new experiment will unfold for them as well." He added, "When you become a member of the government, you take on the position of the government's agent and spokesperson. Joining the cabinet presupposes adjusting one's personal position to fit the broader direction of the government." The remarks came as figures from across the pro-government camp were widely appointed, and amounted to a call for them to align with a consistent government message.
