South Korea’s Democratic Party (더불어민주당) found itself mired in high drama and division this week, as plans for a merger with the Innovation Party (조국혁신당) were abruptly shelved amid escalating internal strife. The party’s leader, Jeong Cheong-rae, announced on February 10, 2026, that all merger talks would be put on ice until after the looming local elections—a move reflecting mounting dissent and deepening factionalism within the party’s ranks, according to reports from NEWSIS and JTBC.
The announcement, delivered after a closed-door Supreme Council meeting on February 9, brought to a halt a process that had been fraught with controversy since its inception. Jeong, facing a storm of criticism from both inside and outside the party, explained, “The proposal for integration has brought much concern and anxiety both within and outside the party. We cannot ignore the strong public sentiment that further confusion must be prevented.” He went on to propose the formation of a joint preparation committee for alliance and integration, inviting the Innovation Party to take part, but underscored that any full merger would only be considered after the elections.
Jeong’s move came after nearly three weeks of heated debate and was seen by many as a reluctant concession to a growing rebellion among lawmakers. The party had initially floated the merger in late January, with Jeong publicly advocating for unity to “achieve complete eradication of subversive forces through victory by integration.” Yet, the backlash was swift and fierce. According to Donga Ilbo, about 70 lawmakers—almost half the party’s parliamentary caucus—banded together in open opposition, forming a new group to coordinate their stance and press for a parliamentary investigation into the President’s past prosecutions, as well as to resist the merger outright.
This group, which includes prominent Supreme Council members such as Kang Deuk-gu, Lee Eon-ju, and Hwang Myung-seon, has become a focal point for party dissenters. Their formation was confirmed on February 10, with plans to hold a press conference on February 12 and to push for a national investigation in the first half of the year. “At this moment, it’s crucial to prevent the party from splintering due to fruitless debate and to unify voices around key tasks such as victory in the local elections and prosecutorial reform,” one first-term lawmaker told Donga Ilbo.
But the internal rifts didn’t end there. Supreme Council Member Kang Deuk-gu became a lightning rod for controversy after he posted—then hastily deleted—a message on social media claiming that the President favored a post-election merger and an integrated party convention. “The President’s position, as conveyed by Hong Ik-pyo, the Blue House’s political secretary, is in favor of integration,” Kang wrote, adding, “Given the current situation, integration before the local elections is difficult, but the President hopes for a merger afterwards and an integrated convention.” He further stated, “If a statement on the merger is made tomorrow, the President wants a committee to be set up immediately to prepare for it.”
Kang’s post sparked a furor, not only for its content but for its implications about presidential interference in party affairs—a sensitive issue in South Korean politics. The Blue House quickly moved to distance itself, telling JTBC and NEWSIS, “Mergers are a matter for the party to decide; the Blue House has no position or involvement in the matter.” Kang, for his part, explained that the post was not intended as a public statement but as a report to the Prime Minister, and deleted it after realizing the controversy it had caused. He later told reporters, “That’s not what happened,” when asked about the nature of his conversation with Hong Ik-pyo, and declined to elaborate further.
The episode underscored the confusion and mistrust swirling within the party, as well as the high political stakes. Some critics suggested that the disclosure and subsequent deletion of such a politically charged message only deepened the sense of uncertainty and fueled speculation about the real motives behind the merger push. As 시사타파NEWS noted, “The act of revealing and then retracting sensitive political messages has raised questions about responsibility and intent, and has only added to the party’s internal turmoil.”
Meanwhile, the Innovation Party and its leader, Cho Guk, found themselves drawn into the fray. Kang Deuk-gu issued a pointed warning to Cho, declaring, “The Innovation Party is not part of the Democratic Party.” This was in response to Cho’s earlier criticism of factionalism within the Democratic Party, where he referenced a 2023 statement by President Lee Jae-myung warning that “internal attacks are the greatest risk.” Cho had urged against prioritizing factional interests over the unity of the broader progressive camp, writing, “Don’t prioritize factional interests over unity. Attacking and shaming those who disagree only weakens us all.”
Jeong Cheong-rae, for his part, expressed regret over the entire episode, apologizing for the confusion and turmoil the merger proposal had caused. “I thought unity was more urgent than controversy over integration,” he admitted, adding, “All the events in the process of discussing integration were due to my shortcomings.” He promised that the party leadership would strive for greater unity and humility, focusing on victory in the local elections and the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration. “We will work harder and do better,” Jeong vowed, acknowledging both the disappointment and the need for reconciliation within the party.
The Innovation Party, meanwhile, has yet to make an official response, but planned to convene a meeting on February 11 to determine its next steps. As the dust settles, the Democratic Party faces a crucial test: can it heal its internal wounds and present a united front in the upcoming elections, or will lingering resentments and factional power struggles continue to dog its efforts?
For now, the suspension of merger talks marks a pause in the party’s internal battles, but the underlying tensions remain unresolved. The coming weeks will reveal whether Jeong’s gamble on unity pays off—or whether it only postpones an inevitable reckoning.