Democratic Party leader Jung Cheong-rae and Supreme Council member Lee Eon-ju appear serious during a party leadership meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul on Feb. 6. Photo by Asia Today
Feb. 6 (Asia Today) — Jung Cheong-rae, leader of South Korea’s Democratic Party of Korea, said Thursday he has asked for a full caucus meeting to address controversy over a possible merger with the Rebuilding Korea Party, as senior lawmakers warned the debate is fueling internal divisions.
Jung met with third-term lawmakers at the National Assembly and said he requested the party’s floor leader to convene an all-member meeting as soon as possible. He described the talks as a listening process aimed at gauging whether a merger could aid the party ahead of local elections.
“We are at a critical juncture,” Jung said, adding that the proposal was made to explore any potential electoral benefit and to gather views through intensive discussion.
Senior lawmakers pushed back, calling on party leaders to bring the issue to a swift conclusion. Rep. So Byeong-hoon, who heads the group of third-term members, said the merger debate has become a “black hole” consuming the party’s agenda.
“Prolonging this controversy does not help the party,” So said, urging Jung and the party’s supreme council to resolve the matter promptly and ease concerns among voters and party members.
Rep. Wi Seong-gon, the group’s secretary, echoed the call for decisive leadership, saying swift decision-making is needed to prevent further internal strife.
Lawmakers also sought to defuse controversy over a leaked document outlining a potential merger roadmap, describing it as a routine internal working paper rather than a leadership directive. Wi said preparing such documents is part of normal party operations, while So cautioned against linking routine materials to the party leadership.
The Democratic Party leadership is expected to discuss the seniors’ demands at an upcoming supreme council meeting this weekend.
— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260206010002526