[Exclusive] Political Reform Alliance: "Democratic Party, Out of Control with Hegemonic Behavior... Can't Work Together Like This"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Cheol-eung] Following Miraedang, the Green Party has decided to participate in the proportional representation coalition party, but a rift is emerging between the coalition platform party 'Political Reform Coalition' and the Democratic Party of Korea.

On the 16th, a Political Reform Coalition official strongly criticized the Democratic Party, saying, "They are showing an arrogant attitude by presenting their own guidelines while forgetting the spirit of the coalition," and added, "If they want a 'satellite party' led by the Democratic Party, we cannot join." He also said, "(The Democratic Party) still hasn't come to their senses."

This reaction came after Yoon Ho-jung, the Democratic Party Secretary-General, mentioned in a press briefing the possibility of coalition parties including Miraedang, the Green Party, the Basic Income Party, the Gaja Environment Party, and the Small Business Party, setting a kind of deadline until the 18th. It was seen as revealing the Democratic Party's intention to organize the coalition and take the lead.

The official pointed out, "We have come this far overcoming the 'satellite party' controversy within the pro-democracy progressive civil society, but suddenly the Democratic Party came out arrogantly saying 'follow me,'" and criticized, "They openly expressed their intention to gather pro-Democratic Party factions and excluded the Justice Party, which civil society has been continuously requesting."

The Political Reform Coalition has been promoting broad participation from existing value-oriented parties such as environmental, labor, and youth parties, and they expressed that they cannot accept the Democratic Party's remarks including even newly formed parties.

Integration with another coalition platform, 'For the Citizens,' is also uncertain. This group includes the Reform People's Movement Headquarters, which supported former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk and advocated for prosecution reform during last year's Seocho-dong rallies. Compared to the Political Reform Coalition, which has many civil society figures participating, 'For the Citizens' has a strong 'pro-Moon Jae-in' or 'pro-Cho Kuk' image. The Democratic Party is requesting the two platforms to merge.

A Political Reform Coalition official said, "We can meet and talk with 'For the Citizens' for the greater good, but there has been no such request," and added, "If the Democratic Party joins hands with them, the 'Cho Kuk frame' will resurface, and creating such an election scenario is not reasonable."

In the worst case, the Political Reform Coalition may withdraw. The official criticized, "The purpose of forming the coalition party was to create a proper National Assembly reflecting the mixed-member proportional representation system, but if the Democratic Party insists on breaking it themselves, there is nothing we can do," and added, "They still haven't come to their senses, not knowing their position."

Meanwhile, the Green Party announced that from the 13th to the 15th, they conducted a party member referendum on participation in the election coalition party, with a turnout of 51.3%, 74.06% in favor, and 25.94% opposed. They exceeded the required two-thirds of party members for participation. Following the youth party Miraedang and the Basic Income Party, they became the third minor party outside the National Assembly to join. However, if the Democratic Party-led form is strengthened, the possibility of forming a separate coalition cannot be ruled out.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.