On February 10, 2026, the Democratic Party of Korea brought weeks of political turbulence to a head by announcing the suspension of its merger talks with the Jo Guk Innovation Party. The move, which capped 19 days of heated debate, public warnings, and internal dissent, signaled a dramatic pause in the party’s bid for unity ahead of the crucial June 3 local elections. Instead, the party will now focus on electoral cooperation, with the possibility of resuming merger discussions after the polls, according to multiple Korean media reports including NEWSIS, Hankyung, and Seoul Economic Daily.
The episode began on January 22, when Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheong-rae made a surprise proposal to merge with the Jo Guk Innovation Party. What followed was a whirlwind of behind-the-scenes maneuvering, public statements, and growing internal opposition. By February 10, Jeong faced the reality that the party was not ready to move forward, acknowledging, “The proposal for integration has caused concerns inside and outside the party, and it is true that the expected synergy from the merger has proven difficult to achieve.” He added, “I cannot ignore the opinion, both inside and outside the party, that further confusion must be prevented.”
Jeong’s statement, delivered after a closed senior party meeting, made it clear that the Democratic Party would halt all merger talks before the local elections. Instead, he suggested forming a joint preparatory committee for cooperation and integration, with the intention of revisiting the merger after the election cycle. “We will pursue integration centered on the preparatory committee after the local elections,” Jeong explained, according to NEWSIS.
The rationale behind the suspension was as much about internal dynamics as electoral strategy. The Democratic Party, long a dominant force in Korean politics, has recently been roiled by factional infighting and growing dissatisfaction with its leadership. Jeong’s bold merger proposal, initially seen as a bid to consolidate the center-left and present a united front, quickly became a flashpoint for these tensions. According to Seoul Economic Daily, “The collapse of the merger is seen as a result of accumulated dissatisfaction with the party leadership, particularly among pro-Lee Jae-myung factions.”
One of the most visible signs of discord came from Kang Deuk-gu, a senior party official and member of the party’s executive committee. Kang publicly posted—and then swiftly deleted—a message on social media detailing a conversation he had with Hong Ik-pyo, the presidential office’s political secretary. In the post, Kang claimed that the president favored a merger after the local elections and even suggested preparing a special committee for the process. He noted that the president’s position seemed different from that of the prime minister and called for a reconfirmation of the president’s stance. “It appears there is a difference in temperature from what the prime minister said. I think it is necessary to confirm the president’s exact position,” Kang wrote, according to NEWSIS.
The deletion of Kang’s post did little to quell the controversy. Instead, it set off a firestorm of speculation about the political intent behind both the disclosure and its withdrawal. Critics argued that such sensitive political messages, especially those purporting to reflect the president’s wishes, should not be revealed and then retracted without explanation. The episode also raised concerns about possible presidential interference in party affairs—a charge the presidential office flatly denied. “The merger is a matter for the party to decide; the presidential office has no position on the matter,” a spokesperson told NEWSIS.
The merger saga also exposed deep divisions between the Democratic Party and the Jo Guk Innovation Party, as well as within the Democratic Party itself. Kang Deuk-gu publicly warned Jo Guk, leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, stating, “The Jo Guk Innovation Party is not part of the Democratic Party.” This was in direct response to Jo Guk’s earlier remarks urging the party to avoid factional power struggles and prioritize unity. Jo Guk had cited a 2023 statement by President Lee, warning that “internal attacks are the biggest risk to the party.” Jo Guk’s advice: “Do not put factional interests above the interests of the camp and do not engage in power struggles. Internal conflicts harm not only the Democratic Party but the entire democratic camp.”
Amid this war of words, party leadership was under mounting pressure. The Democratic Party’s own lawmakers were far from united, and reports indicated that around 70 members opposing the merger were organizing a separate group to push for a national audit and consolidate their influence within the party. Internal meetings, including a critical closed-door session on February 10, revealed that the majority of lawmakers were against pursuing a merger before the elections. “Lawmakers shared that, while there is justification for a merger, it is difficult to proceed under current circumstances,” said Park, the party’s chief spokesperson, as reported by Seoul Economic Daily.
Jeong Cheong-rae’s decision to suspend the merger was accompanied by a rare public apology. “All the confusion caused by the merger discussions is my responsibility,” he said, expressing regret to both party members and the general public. “We all share the spirit of putting the party before ourselves, whether we supported or opposed the merger,” Jeong added, according to NEWSIS. He emphasized that unity was now more urgent than continued debate over integration: “I thought that harmony was more urgent than the controversy over integration.”
The Jo Guk Innovation Party, for its part, refrained from issuing an immediate official response. Jo Guk announced that his party would hold an emergency leadership meeting on February 11 to decide its position. “A short while ago, at about 8:40 p.m., Representative Jeong Cheong-rae called to inform me of the Democratic Party’s final position on the merger,” Jo Guk wrote on social media. “We will announce our position after an emergency meeting tomorrow morning.”
Observers say the failed merger attempt has implications beyond the immediate parties involved. It has thrown a spotlight on the Democratic Party’s internal fractures, the challenges of managing diverse political camps, and the risks of top-down leadership moves in an era of heightened scrutiny and social media transparency. The episode also raises questions about the party’s strategy for the upcoming elections and its ability to present a unified front to voters.
With the June 3 local elections looming, both parties now face the task of regrouping and redefining their strategies. Whether the Democratic Party can heal its internal rifts and whether the Jo Guk Innovation Party will seek new alliances remain open questions. For now, the drama underscores the volatility of party politics in South Korea—and the high stakes of every move as the nation heads into another pivotal election season.